Distinguished Piano Scholar Competition
February 20th, 2027 | Campbell University
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Fall Kickoff Meeting: Wed. Sept 23rd, 2026 10:00 AM
Registration will be open December 1st - 10th, 2026
2027 Competition Rules Coming Fall 2026
What is the Distinguished Piano Scholar Competition?
What is the Distinguished Piano Scholar Competition?
The Raleigh Piano Teachers Association (RPTA) Distinguished Piano Scholar Competition is a premier event designed to encourage high-level, artistic performance and well-rounded musicianship in young pianists aged 14–18.
Unlike traditional performance-only events, this comprehensive competition evaluates a student's total musical proficiency. Participants earn up to 100 total points across five distinct areas, each worth 20% of their final score:
Repertoire Performance: Presenting three solo pieces across contrasting stylistic periods, including a designated required piece for the year.
Interview: Discussing the history, form, and stylistic characteristics of their selected repertoire.
Technical Skills: Demonstrating mastery of major and minor scales, arpeggios, cadence chords, and advanced keyboard patterns.
Sight Reading: Performing upper-intermediate level musical excerpts on the spot.
Ear Training & Theory: Completing ear training exercises (cadences, dictation) and a written harmonic analysis.
Prize & Honors
Prize & Honors
The competition winner receives a $500 cash prize and the honor of performing at the Young Artist Auditions (YAA) Honors Recital (usually in March), complete with special recognition and a featured biographic program insert.
❓For any questions, please reach out to Dr. Hexin Qiao (Competition Chair) at qiaohexin@hotmail.com
2026 RPTA Distinguished Piano Scholar
Mikaela Johnson
Mikaela Johnson
Student of Kendall Kelly
Mikaelah Johnson, a seventeen-year-old senior in high school, began learning piano at age six and has been studying for the past eleven years. After beginning her piano education with her mother at home, she now studies with Kendall Kelly in the Wake Forest area.
Since 2020, Mikaelah has participated in the North Carolina Music Teachers Association Performance Festival five times, at both the district and state divisions, achieving the rating of Highest Honors nine times. In October 2025, she performed at the NCMTA honors recital held at Appalachian State University at the association’s annual conference. Additionally, Mikaelah participated in a masterclass with John O’Conor at Meredith College as part of RPTA’s Fall Workshop in 2023. She performed at RPTA’s Musicale in 2024. In the summer of 2025, Mikaelah attended UNCG’s summer music camp during which she learned from the college’s faculty and performed in both ensemble and solo performances.
Mikaelah also enjoys pursuing her love of music by singing in a local homeschool choir and playing keyboard for a jazz band. She loves to share the joy she finds in music through teaching piano lessons and sharing her music with others.
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