The winner will play their winning selection(s) during the NSPC concert with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in October 2026*; there is also a cash prize of $1000.

*the transcription portion of the concert is not accompanied by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

March 21, 2026:

Application Submission Deadline

April 15, 2026:

Finalists Notified

Early October 2026 (TBA):

Performance of Transcription  During Concert with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

*dates subject to change

1. The work(s) submitted must be the applicant’s/competitor’s OWN transcription(s) of a Nina Simone song. It may be a song written by Nina Simone and/or a song she didn’t write but made famous, or performed/recorded in her iconic style.

2. The first and only round for this competition is video-only; there are no live/in-person components.

3. Persons also competing in the Nina Simone Piano Competition for African-American Pianists (hereinafter “the Main Competition”) may also participate in this competition for no additional fee.  The transcription may be accepted as the Main Competition African-American diaspora repertoire requirement provided it meets the time stipulation.  Adding a Nina Simone transcription to Main Competition repertoire does not automatically enter you into the Transcription Competition.  During the Main Competition application process you must affirm that you are also participating in the Transcription Competition, and upload the required media.

4. Applications must be submitted via:app.getacceptd.com

5. This competition is international.

6. The performance during the October 2026 concert at Music Hall is a solo performance and not accompanied by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.  

7. Accommodations will be provided in October 2026 for all competitors who do not live in the Cincinnati area.  If spouses, relatives, or friends wish to accompany the competitor, they must provide lodging and transportation for themselves.  Accommodations are provided until the morning immediately following the performance at Music Hall as part of the NSPC Finals in October 2026. Competitors are responsible for all lodging beyond this date.

8. Competitors may not have any other commitments during their stay in Cincinnati.  Rehearsal schedules are subject to change and failure to appear may result in cancellation of the competitor’s final performance.  

9. All information provided in this document is correct at the time of publication. However, the Nina Simone Piano Competition reserves the right to make changes if circumstances dictate. Check our websiteninasimonepianocompetition.org for changes and updates. In differences between translations of texts and rules, the English language is definitive.

10. Competitors agree to be financially responsible for any and all medical needs and expenses during their residency related to this competition.

1. The Nina Simone Transcription Competition is open to applicants of any age and ethnicity. Applications must be received by March 21, 11:59pm EST. All applicants will be notified by April 15, 2026. The Nina Simone Piano Competition reserves the right to request additional information from applicants.

2. The following must be included in the online application form viagetacceptd.com/artofthepiano. No physical application will be accepted by the NSPC office.

   a. A non-refundable charge of $50 (after February 28, 2026 the fee is $70)

   b. A digital, high-resolution (300 dpi or higher) photograph of the applicant.

   c. A copy of an official birth certificate or passport.

   d. An electronic copy of the applicant’s biography of at least 100 words, but no more than 200 words, suitable for publication in the program and/or publicity.

   e. Information about the applicant’s prior musical activities: details of competitions entered, awards received, press releases, reviews, recordings released, and management agencies.

   f. Details of the applicant’s musical studies. Names of the applicant’s present and most recent teachers, and institutions where studies took place, if applicable. Please include details of any master classes in which the applicant has participated.

   g. A video upload is required. The recording of must be in one (1) take and the hands must be visible at all times on camera.  TO PRESERVE ANONYMITY, DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME AS PART OF THE FILE NAME.  DO NOT ADD TITLES WITH YOUR NAME TO THE VIDEO.

Applicants to the Main Competition need not submit materials in lines b through f more than once.  It is only necessary to attest within your Main Competition application that you wish to also participate in the Transcription Competition; and to upload the video adhering to the requirements outlined above.

(1) The screening jury, composed of three members, will evaluate all audition material and will select competitors according to the following procedures:

a. Competitors are identified to the jury by number only. No other information is given, nor is the jury allowed to view any applications, recommendation letters, or photographs.

b. The recordings are evaluated by each member of the jury based on commonly accepted musical criteria, without discussion.

c. The number of winner(s) to include with the October 2026 performance in Cincinnati remains at the discretion of the jury and/or artistic director.  This may include not advancing anyone to the October 2026 performance.

(2) The order of finalist performances in October 2026 will depend on rehearsal scheduling, program content, and administrative requirements.

(3)Royalty rights for all performances of Nina Simone songs/transcriptions are the full and exclusive responsibility of the competitor.

(4) During the October 2026 concert, competitors are required to be ready and willing to perform earlier or later than their assigned time.

(5) If at any time during the residency in Cincinnati it becomes apparent that the competitor is unable to adequately perform their transcription, NSPC reserves the right to remove the competitor from the October 2026 concert.

(6) No competitor will be admitted who has:

Ever studied in any capacity with a jury member

OR

Has been coached by a jury member in preparation for the competition.

OR

Is a relative of a jury member

(7) Once accepted to the competition, competitors are forbidden to play for members of the jury in master classes or privately. Any such violation will result in disqualification.

(8) There shall be no contact or conversation between any competitor and any juror prior to the competitor’s elimination.  Any such willful violation will disqualify the competitor.

(9) Cash awards are subject to applicable U.S. income tax laws.

(10) Any and all repertoire changes must be approved by the Artistic Director.  No repertoire changes may be made after May 15, 2026. 

(11) All rounds of the Competition may be broadcast live or may be recorded and videotaped for subsequent broadcast, video, internet, or audio recording use. Camera crews may document all Competition events. Neither the Nina Simone Piano Competition, Inc. nor its assignees or licensees may be held liable for any payments to competitors arising out of materials derived from Competition performances. Applicants are required to sign a release form yielding all rights on such materials to the Nina Simone Piano Competition, Inc., its assignees, or its licensees.

(12) All performances are property of the Nina Simone Piano Competition and may only be reproduced and disseminated with the Nina Simone Piano Competition’s express and written permission.

(13) While we intend to award all announced prizes, final decisions in this regard will be at the discretion of the jury.

(14) All decisions made by the jury/ies are final.