Shigeru Kawai Chosen by More Than Two Thirds of Pianists at NICPC’s First Amateur Edition
The Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition (NICPC) held its first Amateur Edition October 8–10, 2026, welcoming 31 pianists to Lipscomb University’s Willard Collins Alumni Auditorium. The event brought amateur competitors together for three days centered on the music of Frédéric Chopin, culminating in a final round and awards ceremony on Saturday.
For this inaugural edition, participants could choose between a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand and a Steinway D. Piano selection took place on October 8, with each competitor given five minutes to try the instruments and make their choice. Of the 31 participants, 21 selected the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX—more than two-thirds of the field.
Competitive performances began on Friday, October 9, and continued into Saturday, with the final round bringing the event to its close. The top prizes were awarded to:
- First Prize: Jim Chou
- Second Prize: Charl de Wet
- Third Prize: Benjamin Alwes
Both first-prize winner Jim Chou and third-prize winner Benjamin Alwes chose the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX for the competition. Their results marked a memorable conclusion to an event in which the instrument was the choice of a strong majority of participants.
Alongside the overall prizes, NICPC recognized outstanding performances across four genres of Chopin’s piano music:
- Best Impromptu: Jonathan Shih
- Best Nocturne: Robert Finley
- Best Scherzo: Diana Cusano
- Best Mazurka: Mark Cannon
Robert Finley and Mark Cannon were also among the pianists who selected the Shigeru Kawai. These genre awards highlighted individual achievements across repertoire that calls for lyrical expression, rhythmic character, and technical command.
The performances were evaluated by a seven-member jury comprising Graciella Kowalczyk, Elizabeth Pridonoff, Jerome Reed, Robert Marler, Zsolt Bognár, Vladimir Petrov, and Joshua Izzard. The awards were presented late Saturday afternoon, concluding NICPC’s first competition dedicated to amateur pianists.
For Kawai, it was a pleasure to see the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX play such a prominent role in this inaugural event. We congratulate Jim Chou, Charl de Wet, Benjamin Alwes, the genre prize recipients, and every participant who took the stage. We also extend our congratulations to the organizers and jury for bringing this new edition of the Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition to life.
