Dallas International Piano Competition
The Dallas International Piano Competition, originally known as the Dallas Chamber Symphony (or DCS) International Piano Competition, is an annual competition hosted by the Dallas Chamber Symphony and Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts. The competition was first held in 2013. Created by Dallas Chamber Symphony Artistic Director and Conductor Richard McKay and presented at Southern Methodist University, the competition offers professional and pre-professional pianists the opportunity to perform before an internationally-renowned jury. As one of the prizes is to play with the Dallas Chamber Symphony, applicants are encouraged to explore  pieces that are well-suited for accompaniment by a chamber orchestra. Contestants who do not advance past Round One participate in a masterclass and private lessons while contestants who advance to Round Two do not participate, rather, they just continue in the competition rounds. Prizes. Cash prizes are $400 for honorable mention, $500 for third place, $1,000 for second, and $1,500 for first. The winner also performs their prize-winning concerto with the Dallas Chamber Symphony. Venues. Most competition events take place at Southern Methodist University’s Owen Arts Center. The DCS accompanies the winner in  a performance on the season finale concert at Dallas City Performance Hall. Past winners. The following is a list of previous first-prize winners of the Dallas International Piano Competition: