pianist performs with a full orchestra
The Thomas & Evon

Cooper International Competition

Tony Siqi Yun of Toronto, champion of the 2018 Cooper International Competition.
Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni

Founded in 2010, the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition is dedicated to presenting an important international competitive opportunity to outstanding young musicians.

The “Cooper Competition” at Oberlin, sponsored by Thomas and Evon Cooper, alternates annually between piano and violin. The program was first offered in summer 2010 for pianists, followed by a 2011 competition for violinists. Open to musicians between the ages of 13 and 18, the competition culminates in a final round where the top three competitors perform a full concerto with orchestra. Cash prizes total $40,000, including a $20,000 first prize.

Learn more about the Cooper Competition sponsors

Piano 2023

The performances of the 2023 Cooper International Competition for pianists begin July 31.

Watch the Livestream

The Semifinals, Concerto Round, and Honors Concert will be held in Warner Concert Hall on the campus of Oberlin College & Conservatory. These rounds are free and open to the public.

The Concerto Finals with The Cleveland Orchestra will be held in Cleveland, Ohio at Severance Music Center’s Mandel Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 4. Tickets are available at clevelandorchestra.com.

Each round will also be streamed live. View the order of performances on the Piano 2023 Competition Schedule.

Watch the Piano 2023 livestream

See the Piano 2023 competition schedule

Piano 2023 participants

 

2018 Cooper finalists.
2018 Concerto finalists Tony Siqi Yun, Yunchan Lim, and Kai-Min Chang (from left), with Evon and Thomas Cooper.
Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

News and Updates

Past Competitions

Media Galleries

2019 Cooper Violin Competition

Contact

General Information:

Anna Hoffmann
Program Administrator
direct: 440-775-8044
fax: 440-775-8942
ahoffman@oberlin.edu

Media:

Cathleen Partlow Strauss
Director of Conservatory Communications
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
440-775-8328
cstrauss@oberlin.edu

A Member of the Alink-Argerich Foundation since 2006.

About Oberlin Conservatory

Oberlin Conservatory of Music offers rigorous programs designed to prepare students for professional lives as performers, composers, scholars, and teachers. We welcome talented music students with demonstrated records of achievement to apply.


Warner Concert Hall.
Photo credit: Kevin Reeves