POTSDAM – Fifteen of the world’s finest young classical pianists will soon descend on the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam to compete for over $5,000 in prize money in the Julia Crane International Piano Competition.

The final round of the fifth annual Julia Crane International Piano Competition will be open to the public, in a performance at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12 in Hosmer Concert Hall.

Selected from a pool of national and international applicants, these world-class 14- to 18-year-old artists will perform difficult works from memory before a jury.

As the State University of New York’s only All-Steinway School, the Crane School of Music is uniquely prepared to host 15 student pianists and instructors from all backgrounds.

Since 2002, the piano competition has provided scholarships and performance opportunities for young pianists. To be selected to compete, students must submit a CD recording of two or three selections of contrasting styles of music.

In the preliminary round, they are asked to perform a 12-minute audition including music excerpts from their longer recital work.

Six chosen finalists will then perform the entirety of a 25-minute recital program, which must include at least one selection from the baroque or classical periods.

All competitors must perform their works from memory.

The festival provides students and piano pedagogues from around the world with an opportunity to participate in the second annual Crane Piano Pedagogy Conference with the Crane piano faculty and renowned guest artist and lecturers on various topics.

The pedagogy conference is free to all piano teachers and students and features two full days of workshops and master classes with Crane School of Music faculty and renowned piano pedagogue Marc Durand.

All events are free, but registration is required.

For more information, contact Kathryn Koscho at 267-3230.