Every year The Music School of Delaware holds a competitive performance experience for advancing piano students. Winners in four age categories (ages 7–9, 10–12, 13–15, and 16–18) are awarded prizes for outstanding performances of solo piano repertoire based on technical fluency, accuracy, and musical interpretation. In addition, the competition awards the Janet Cohen Piano Scholarship for private study for Music School students. We are happy to release the results of the 2026 Piano Competition below.

Category I: Ages 7-9

First Prize – Carina Jiang
Second Prize – Oliver Wu

Category II: Ages 10-12

First Prize – Anna Liang
Second Prize – Elayne Zhang
Third Prize – Hannah Zhang
Honorable Mention – Lia Cao

Category III: Ages 13-15

First Prize – Not Awarded
Second Prize – Benjamin Yong
Third Prize – Rebecca Huang
Honorable Mention – Grace Zhang

Category IV: Ages 16-18

First prize – Andrew Huang
Second Prize – George Buchta
Third Prize – Andrea Hoang

Janet Cohen Summer Piano Institute Prize

George Buchta

Congratulations to the winners listed above, and thank you to the faculty and family members that supported them!