The esteemed Rubato International Piano Competition has announced the semifinalists selected to compete in its 2025 event, to be held August 12–16 at the Oxford Performing Arts Center in Oxford, Alabama.

Recognized as the premier international piano competition of its kind in the American Southeast, this distinguished event sets itself apart by uniting classical and jazz disciplines within a single, comprehensive platform.

Celine Chen of Valencia

This year’s competition will feature exceptional talent from across the globe, including representatives from Vietnam, China, Albania, Taiwan, Canada and states across the country (California, Texas, Maryland), including an artist from Alabama (Henry Hewitt).

Classical Category (Ages 10-18): Josephine Chow (Austin, TX), Hiroshi Corro (Freemont, CA), Enni Harlan (Los Angeles, CA), Henry Hewitt (Mobile, AL) and Shixun Song (Andover, MA)

Classical Category (Ages 19-27): Celine Chen (Valencia, CA), Huan-Ching Chou (Hsinchu County, Taiwan), Aleks Shameti (Tirana, Albania), Chau Tran (Vietnam) and Jiusi Zhang (Langfang, China)

Jazz Category (Ages 12-27): Phineas Davenport (Houston, TX), Leon Hsu (Taiwan), Tomas Jonsson (Baltimore, MD), Eric Liang (Toronto, Canada), Jake Nalagan (Sacramento, CA) and Brahm Sasner (San Francisco, CA)

Ticket packages ($30-$45) and single tickets ($20) to the semifinal and final public concerts (August 14-16) are on sale now at the Oxford PAC Box Office and online by clicking here.

Since its inception in 2022, the Rubato International Piano Competition has emerged as a leading platform for rising pianists, recognized globally for its artistic excellence and career-launching potential.

As an official Steinway & Sons International Competition, Rubato provides young artists with extraordinary opportunities to develop and showcase their talents on a world stage. Competitors perform on the Steinway D Concert Spirio Grand Piano, one of the most prestigious instruments in the world, enabling them to fully realize and convey the depth of their musical expression. This unparalleled experience not only elevates each performance but also fosters significant artistic growth, distinguishing participants as they pursue careers at the highest level of the profession.

Rubato proudly presents a distinguished panel of six internationally acclaimed judges, representing both classical and jazz categories. Past and present jury members include renowned figures from the Van Cliburn Competition, The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Berklee College of Music, the University of North Texas, East Texas A&M University, and the University of Michigan, among other prestigious institutions. This year’s classical competition panelists are Christopher Harding, Marina Lomazov and Luis Sanchez. For jazz, the jury includes Utar Artun, Dave Meder and Elio Villafranca.

For more information, click here.

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