Competition

For over a century, the Pacific Musical Society & Foundation has nurtured the growth of gifted musicians by awarding merit-based scholarships to promising students in the Bay Area and surrounding regions. Each year we hold a competition for instrumentalists, pianists, vocalists, and composers in various age categories. For most categories, the competition requires that entrants demonstrate significant musical skill and versatility by performing a variety of selections in styles from baroque to modern. Winners receive scholarship awards to support their ongoing musical education and are featured in our Winners Showcase, while all contestants receive individualized feedback from a panel of distinguished judges, helping them further develop their musical talents. In 2026, our distinguished judging panel comprised Dmitri Berlinsky and Olga Kaler for the Instrumental categories, Leon Livshin and Orion Weiss for the Piano categories, Sheri Greenawald for Vocal, and Mason Bates for Composition.

Winners for our 2026 Competition have been announced! Click here to see this year’s list. Our 2026 Winners Showcase will be posted in the coming weeks—stay tuned!

Past Winners Showcases

In these showcases, you can learn more about our talented scholarship winners from previous years and see their astounding performances. You’re sure to be impressed by the talent and musicality on display by this group of young performers!

Past Winners