PIANO COMPETITION
LONDON SEASON OF EXCELLENCE
Scroll Down
About
The London Season of Excellence is an international piano competition and festival celebrating musical excellence, creativity, and cultural connection. Endorsed by the Lang Lang International Music Foundation and held at Steinway Hall London, the event embraces the spirit of celebration and opportunity through music during the most festive season of the year.
This special event offers young pianists a meaningful opportunity to perform on a world-class stage, share their artistry with the public, and experience music as a source of inspiration and joy. Students from underserved communities are given priority to participate, reflecting the event’s deep commitment to access and inclusivity.
Participation Requirements
Age Divisions
Junior Division: Ages 8–12
Senior Division: Ages 13–18
Application Deadline: November 30, 2025
Preliminary Round (Video Submission)
Applicants are required to submit a recent video recording (made within the past six months) featuring one freely chosen solo piano work.
Junior Division: up to 5 minutes
Senior Division: up to 10 minutes
A Fee: £50
Final Round (In-Person)
Selected finalists will be invited to perform at Steinway Hall London under the same repertoire and time guidelines:
Junior Division: up to 5 minutes
Senior Division: up to 10 minutes
Application & Fees
Application Deadline: November 30, 2025
Application Fee : £50
Manhattan Music and Arts Foundation Presents
Co - Director
Jung Eun Hong
" I'm passionate about creating opportunities for young pianists from around the world to connect, learn, and share their artistry in one of the world's most vibrant musical cities - fostering access for all and celebrating music as a universal language."
Co - Director
Peter James
"This Competition is dedicated to students who may not have access to the same resources, but whose dedication and love for music deserve to be celebrated. It's about giving them a platform to share their talent and dreams."
Khanh Nhi Luong
Adjudicator
pianist
Third Prize & The Lady Roslyn Lyons Bronze Medalist at the Leeds International Piano Competition 2024
Vietnamese pianist Khanh Nhi Luong won Third Prize & The Lady Roslyn Lyons Bronze Medal at the Leeds International Piano Competition 2024. Praised for her vivid artistry and commanding stage presence, she continues to gain recognition as a dynamic performer on the international stage. Her debut album will be released by Signum Records, marking an exciting new chapter in her career.
Upcoming solo engagements include appearances in Michigan and North Carolina (USA), Leeds, Vienna, and London (Wigmore Hall). In summer 2025, Khanh Nhi will perform at the Sommerliche Musiktage Hitzacker festival in Germany as part of the Steinway Prizewinner Concert Series.
_JPG.jpg)
Guest Artist
Mia Pečnik
pianist
Recognized as one of Croatia’s most promising young pianists, Mia Pečnik has gained international attention for her expressive artistry and technical mastery. She completed her Master’s degree at HfMT Köln under Prof. Andreas Frölich and is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Royal College of Music in London with Prof. Dmitri Alexeev. Career highlights include being named Young Musician of the Year by the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and receiving Croatia’s prestigious “Oscar of Knowledge” award, the country’s highest recognition
for exceptional academic and artistic achievements.
Mia has won over 80 first and special prizes at international competitions and has participated in renowned events such as the Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn and Paderewski Competition, and was a semifinalist at the Liszt Competition Utrecht. In 2025, she became a finalist at the 26th Piano FVG Biennial International Piano Competition, which will feature her in both a solo recital and an orchestral performance in Italy. She has performed as a soloist with orchestras more than 30 times, including appearances with the Zagreb Philharmonic, Kraków Philharmonic, and Croatian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra. Highlights include concerts in Kuwait City, Santa Cecilia Hall in Rome, and Kraków. In 2022, she recorded a CD featuring Dora Pejačević’s Piano Concerto with the Zagreb Philharmonic, released by Croatia Records.
Guest Artist
Aidan Siqi Zhao
pianist
Lang Lang Young Scholar
Aidan Siqi Zhao, aged 14, is a highly gifted young musician currently studying in Year 10 at King’s College School, London. He is a dual-instrumentalist, learning both piano and violin as first instruments at the Royal College of Music Junior Department, where he continues to flourish artistically. Aidan previously performed as a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, demonstrating his versatility and commitment to orchestral performance.
Aidan is presently studying piano under the guidance of Professor Ian Jones at the Royal College of Music, receiving mentorship that has helped shape his expressive and mature musical voice. His talent has attracted national attention; in 2021, he was interviewed by BBC News in recognition of his musical achievements.
In February 2024, Aidan was selected as a Young Scholar of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, one of the most prestigious programmes worldwide for emerging young pianists. Through this opportunity, he has received invaluable support in the form of performance engagements, artistic development, and masterclasses with distinguished musicians.
Aidan has been invited to perform at numerous events and venues across the United Kingdom and internationally. Over the past two years, his performance tours have taken him to France, Germany, Switzerland, the United States, and China, where he has impressed audiences with both his technical command and musical sensitivity.
Meet Our Founders
This is the space to introduce visitors to the business or brand. Briefly explain who's behind it, what it does and what makes it unique. Share its core values and what this site has to offer.
Likes
12K
Comments
200
Impressions
10K
Average engagement rate
4.5%
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Id velit ut tortor pretium viverra. Egestas sed tempus urna et pharetra pharetra massa. Odio ut enim blandit volutpat. Aliquam purus sit amet luctus venenatis lectus magna.
Id velit ut tortor pretium viverra. Egestas sed tempus urna et pharetra pharetra massa.
NAME
HERE
CASE STUDY
01.
Trend Forcasting
Personal Styling
Product Reviews
Visual Storytelling
Audience Engagement
MY EXPERTISE
RECENT VIDEOS
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Viral Video 1
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Viral Video 2
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Viral Video 3
PARTNERS
Apples
Apricots
Bananas
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Clementine
Dragonfruit
Elderberry
Gooseberry
Grape
Guava
Huckleberry
Kiwi
Lemon
Lime
Mandarin
Mango
Nectarine
CLIENT LOVE
“Testimonials are a powerful way to boost a brand’s image and provide a sense of what it’s like to work together...”
– NAME GOES HERE
“Share something positive a past client has said and encourage potential clients to get onboard...”
– NAME GOES HERE
“Endorsements from real customers lend a personal touch to the website and can go a long way...”
– NAME GOES HERE
GET IN TOUCH
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
@username
© 2025 by Manhattan Music and Arts Foundation. All Rights Reserved.