The William Knabe International Piano Competition's concerto division accepts competitors up to age 17. Entering at just 11 years old, I was the youngest by far - making my second place finish particularly meaningful.

Preparing a Concerto

Learning Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466 for this competition taught me:

• Orchestral score reading and reduction
• Collaboration with accompanists
• Managing large-scale form

Competition Takeaways

This experience fundamentally changed my approach to music:

• Age is just a number - musical maturity matters more
• Competitions are about growth, not just winning
• The importance of stage presence and communication

The Knabe competition marked my transition from child pianist to serious young artist.