The Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition has evolved from its earliest days as part of Hastings Music Festival to become an internationally-renowned competition for young concert pianists from around the world, attracting 360 applicants in 2021 across global online auditions, 50 of which have been selected to come to compete in Hastings. Their prize: the opportunity to perform with the brand new graduate orchestra the Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra during semi-finals and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on our two-night final, and to win a first prize of £15,000. The Sixteenth Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition will take place for the first time in both Rye at Rye Creative Centre (Stage 1) and Hastings, at the White Rock Theatre from 24th February to 5th March 2022. With a first prize of £15,000, the competition gives six finalists the opportunity to perform a complete concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This year’s Competition entry was by video audition only in a move to become more environmentally friendly. The annual competition culminates in a thrilling final in early March with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings. Hastings Musical Festival whose President is Petula Clark CBE is an annual festival and has been running since 1912. It has been held at the White Rock Theatre in Hastings since 1962 and includes four main areas of entry: singing, instrumental, dancing and speech and drama.
