Age Categories
1. Junior Group A
Age 5 and below; born on or after 1 January 2022
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One own-choice piece.
2. Junior Group B
Age 6–7; born between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One own-choice piece.
3. Junior Group C
Age 8–9; born between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One own-choice piece.
4. Junior Group D
Age 10–11; born between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2017
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One own-choice piece.
5. Youth Group A
Age 12–13; born between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2015
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One own-choice piece.
6. Youth Group B
Age 14–15; born between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One own-choice piece.
7. Youth Group C
Age 16–17; born between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2011
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One own-choice piece.
8. Young Adult Group
Age 18–28; born between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2009
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One own-choice piece.
Composer / Special Repertoire Categories
For participants aged 28 or below
9. Bach Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Bach.
10. Haydn Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Haydn.
11. Mozart Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Mozart.
12. Beethoven Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Beethoven.
13. Mendelssohn Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Mendelssohn.
14. Schubert Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Schubert.
15. Schumann Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Schumann.
16. Debussy Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Debussy.
17. Tchaikovsky Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Tchaikovsky.
18. Brahms Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Brahms.
19. Liszt Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Liszt.
20. Chopin Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Chopin.
21. Rachmaninoff Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Rachmaninoff.
22. Prokofiev Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Prokofiev.
23. Scriabin Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Any one work by Scriabin.
24. Modern and Contemporary Works Category
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One work composed in or after the 20th century.
Graded Examination Categories
25. Graded Examination Group A
Grades 1–3
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One Grade 1–3 examination piece.
26. Graded Examination Group B
Grades 4–6
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One Grade 4–6 examination piece.
27. Graded Examination Group C
Grade 7 and above
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One Grade 7 or above examination piece.
Free Choice Categories
28. Free Choice Group A
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One piece at Grade 1–3 level.
29. Free Choice Group B
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One piece at Grade 4–6 level.
30. Free Choice Group C
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: One piece at Grade 7 or above level.
Pop Piano Performance Categories
31. Pop Piano Performance Group A
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Improvisation based on a given melody, not to exceed 2 minutes.
32. Pop Piano Performance Group B
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Improvisation based on a given melody, not to exceed 3 minutes.
33. Pop Piano Performance Group C
• Preliminary Round & New York Final Round: Improvisation based on a given melody, not to exceed 4 minutes.