KINGSTON — Wyoming Seminary Upper School will host the preliminary rounds of Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s 2016 Piano Competition.

NEPA pianists in grades 7 through 12 are invited to apply to the June 4 competition before 5 p.m. May 24. Admission to the contest is $50 per competitor and the event will be held at 201 N. Sprague Ave. Students currently in grades 7, 8 and 9 make up the junior division, while students in grades 10, 11 and 12 make up the senior division.

Each competitor is required to bring two copies of two contrasting pieces of music. The competitors must play from memory and their selections must not exceed 15 minutes.

Professionals from the piano teaching field will provide a written critique to each young pianist, and a selection of competitors will advance to the June 12 final at WVIA’s Sordoni Theater, 100 WVIA Way, Pittston. Spectators are not permitted during the preliminary rounds, but the public is invited to attend the finals.

First place winner of each division receive $350, while second place receives $150. Students in the finals will receive a shirt and four tickets to a NEPA Philharmonic Masterworks concert during the 2016-17 season.

For more information and to apply, call 570-270-4444 or visit nepaphil.org.

Reach Gene Axton at 570-991-6121 or on Twitter @TLArts

Application deadline is May 24 for students in grades 7 – 12 who wish to compete in June 4 perliminary rounds

By Gene Axton

gaxton@timesleader.com

A photo from Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s 2014 Piano Competition Junior Division Final. From left: Jon Nakamatsu Sr., Joan Paskert, Jimmy Curry, Kyle Brier, First Place Junior Division Pianist Kevin Hu, Aaron Hungerford, Alyssa Kristeller, Celina Zhang, Lawrence Loh
http://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Junior-Pianos-2.jpg.optimal.jpgA photo from Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s 2014 Piano Competition Junior Division Final. From left: Jon Nakamatsu Sr., Joan Paskert, Jimmy Curry, Kyle Brier, First Place Junior Division Pianist Kevin Hu, Aaron Hungerford, Alyssa Kristeller, Celina Zhang, Lawrence Loh Submitted photo

A photo from Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s 2014 Piano Competition Senior Division Final. From left: Jon Nakamatsu Sr., Joan Paskert, First Place Senior Division Pianist Sienna Tabron, Nathan Grabow, Lawrence Loh
http://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Senior-Pianos-2.jpg.optimal.jpgA photo from Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s 2014 Piano Competition Senior Division Final. From left: Jon Nakamatsu Sr., Joan Paskert, First Place Senior Division Pianist Sienna Tabron, Nathan Grabow, Lawrence Loh Submitted photo