2026 Winner
Pictured from left to right: Joshua Mhoon, CSO Music Director Cristian Măcelaru, Evan Hines, John Paul McGee
Photos by Phil Armstrong/courtesy Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Joshua Mhoon Wins First Prize
The Nina Simone Piano Competition culminated its second season with concerto finals on Wednesday evening (October 7, 2026) with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Music Director Cristian Măcelaru.
Joshua Mhoon, 23, performed Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30 before a live audience and jury. At the conclusion of the evening, the jury awarded him the first prize of $12,000, and performance opportunities, being presented by Opus 3 in recital at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and an appearance with the Wintergreen Festival.
The other prizes awarded were:
Evan Hines (Artists Division): Silver Medal/Second, $4,000
John Paul McGee: Bronze/Third, $2000
The full program for the evening was:
SOLO ROUND 6 PM
George Walker Sonata No. 2
Sergei Bortkiewicz Ètude No. 8 from 10 Ètudes
Evan Hines
Horace Silver A Mediation on Peace
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor “Take Nabandji” from 24 Negro Melodies
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson Toccata
Margaret Bonds “Troubled Water” from Spiritual Suite for Piano
Nina Simone Nobody’s Fault But Mine
John Paul McGee
Joel Thompson My Dungeon Shook: Three American Preludes
George Gershwin Three Preludes for Piano
Joshua Mhoon
CONCERTO ROUND
Alexander Scriabin Piano Concerto in F-sharp Minor (Hines)
Florence Price Piano Concerto in D Minor in One Movement (McGee)
Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor (Mhoon)
