Sherer International Piano and Strings Competition set for March 2026

The 2026 Sherer International Piano and Strings Competition will take place March 21-22, 2026 in the Goshen College Music Center.

The competition is open to pianists and string players (violinists, violists, and cellists) in grades 8-12, who are not currently enrolled in a degree program at a college or university. Applications must be submitted by Sunday, February 22, 2026, and requires a $75 application fee and a video entry.

Prizes for the top three finishers will be awarded in each of the two divisions (Piano, and Strings). Awards are $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and $300 for third place.

Repertoire should include selections from at least two of the following style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Contemporary, and be up to 20 minutes in length.

Competition judges include Dr. Matthew Hill, pianist and Goshen College professor of music; Dr. Arthur Greene, professor of piano at the University of Michigan; Dr. Ioana Galu, violin professor of the Augustana University and the principal violist of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra; and Dato Machavariani, cello instructor at Goshen College, IUSB, and Valparaiso University and cellist with the South Bend Symphony and Columbia (Mo.) Festival Chamber Orchestra

The Sherer International Piano and Strings Competition is an annual music competition named in honor of the late Lon and Kathryn Sherer, Goshen College Professors Emeritus of Music. For 40 years, Lon (violin) and Kathryn (piano) created, nurtured and developed instrumental music at Goshen College, bringing the program to unprecedented heights through their talent, hard work, and pedagogy.