Global Music Review

GMR Editor

Vancouver, November 7, 2025

The 4th PRM International Piano Competition and PRM Vancouver Music Week were officially launched today in Vancouver, marking the beginning of what is poised to become one of the most influential youth piano events in the world. Hosted by PRIME Society (Pacific Rim Music & Education Society), the press conference assembled political leaders, global music figures, and representatives from major cultural institutions. Among the distinguished guests were Vancouver Deputy Mayor and City Councillor Lenny Zhou, former PRM Executive Director Edward Han Jiang, Dr. Stephen Chatman, Member of the Order of Canada, and Daniel Marshall, Vice President and COO of the Vancouver Academy of Music. Their presence underscored the competition’s rising international stature and its positioning as a platform at the forefront of music education.

The PRM Piano Competition is regarded as a world-class competition for pianists under 18. Its format reflects a commitment to artistic excellence — the Professional Division concludes with a concerto round accompanied by a professional orchestra, making PRM one of the very few global youth competitions to require finalists to perform a concerto in front of a live orchestra. The competition offers a CAD 10,000 cash prize pool, complemented by more than CAD 25,000 in career-development funding, enabling young artists to benefit not only from recognition, but from real opportunities to advance their careers on international stages.

A defining feature of the 2026 edition is the composition of its jury. The jury chair is legendary pianist and Steinway Artist Gary Graffman, former Director of the Curtis Institute of Music and mentor to internationally celebrated pianists including Lang Lang, Yuja Wang, Haochen Zhang, and Lydia Artymiw. Together with international jurors Vladimir Viardo, Elaine Rusk, and Stephen de Pledge, etc., the jury represents a standard of authority rarely seen in competitions for young musicians. Their participation signals a powerful message to the global piano community: PRM aims not to be “just another competition,” but an institution that defines excellence.

The competition’s reach now extends across three major geographic divisions — North America, Asia, and Australia & New Zealand — reflecting a truly international structure. Finalists emerging from these regional rounds will travel to Vancouver in the summer of 2026 for the grand finals and to participate in PRM Vancouver Music Week, a celebration of classical music, national music traditions, and Indigenous cultures, all aimed at strengthening multicultural identity through music.

At today’s event, former Executive Director Edward Han Jiang announced the appointment of Audrey Sung as the new Executive Director of the competition. “I firmly believe that under Audrey’s leadership, and with the support of her team, the organizing committee will continue the legacy of excellence and elevate the competition to new heights,” Jiang remarked. His statement echoed the sentiment shared across the room: PRM is no longer simply an event — it is a cultural movement that empowers the next generation of musicians.

With its rigorous professional standards, high-caliber jury, and global artistic vision, the 4th PRM Piano Competition is poised to shape the future of young pianists and serve as a gateway to the international stage. What began as a competition is now becoming an institution — one that cultivates musicians, advances cultural exchange, and reinforces Vancouver’s role as a global centre for music and the arts.