The 2021 Susan H. Duehlmeier Piano Award


​The winner of this award will receive a new black satin Essex 5'1" grand piano (model 155C)
Congratulations to our winner, Petar Milenkov, a brilliant 15-year-old pianist from California. 
Petar with his new grand piano!
ELIGIBILITY: The 2021 Susan H. Duehlmeier Piano Award will be open to candidates who meet the following requirements:
  • Candidates must be 21 years of age or younger by December 31, 2021
  • Candidates must live in the continental United States
  • Candidates must complete the application below and follow all requirements outlined on this page
  • Candidate cannot be an immediate family member or current student of Lindsey Wright, Josh Wright, or Susan Duehlmeier
HOW TO APPLY: To apply, candidates must fill out all required fields on the application below, including video links, recommendation letters. and proof of age. Please submit materials no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2021 . Limit of one application per person. No substitutions, drafts, or corrected applications will be accepted after submission. Application forms and materials must be submitted in English. Written responses that are incomplete, offensive, or derogatory in nature will be disqualified. Once submitted, all applications will be property of Josh Wright Piano, and we will assume no responsibility for lost or late entries. By submitting an application, you have agreed to abide by the official rules and regulations of this piano award. 
REPERTOIRE: Two YouTube links (one per piece) must be submitted on your application form below, featuring two repertoire pieces of your choosing. One piece must be a virtuosic etude. Individual movements of a sonata are acceptable. Solo works are preferred, but a movement of a concerto is also acceptable if accompanied by second piano or orchestra. Submitted videos must be current, and recorded within the past two years. Videos must show the applicant's hands and face clearly from a side-angle view. Videos must be unedited in one continuous shot. 
PERSONAL STATEMENT VIDEO: One YouTube link must be submitted by the applicant stating the candidate's name, age, time spent studying the piano, and what this piano award would mean to him or her. The video must be 2 minutes in length or less, and show a clear view of the candidate's face.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Two letters of recommendation must be submitted by outside parties (candidates may not submit a letter of recommendation for himself or herself), and attached to the application below. Letters from private teachers and/or professional musicians are preferred. Letters of recommendation must bear a handwritten signature (please scan the letter and attach it to the application form). 
PROOF OF AGE: A document proving the candidate is 21 years of age or younger by December 31, 2021 must be provided on the application form (this will be kept confidential). Please feel free to blur out any sensitive information other than the candidate's name, birthdate, and photo (if submitting a photo ID) on this document.​
SELECTION OF THE WINNER: Candidates must complete the application in full to be eligible for this award. Ten finalists will be chosen by a private jury and notified via email by June 20, 2021. A 10-15 minute interview will take place with each of the ten finalists via Zoom. Once the top three finalists have been chosen, their application material will be taken to Dr. Susan Duehlmeier who will help determine the winner. The winner of this award will be announced by July 1, 2021. Josh Wright reserves the right to withdraw the award if the candidate's application is falsified in any way, and the award will be given to the next eligible candidate. The official winner will be contacted via email or by phone, and his or her name will be published on the Josh Wright Piano website. The decision of the selected winner is final and cannot be contested. 
AWARD: The official winner of this award will receive a new, black satin, Essex 5'1 grand piano (model 155c), and will have the opportunity to perform on Josh Wright's Youtube channel one year after receiving the piano. Josh and Lindsey Wright will cover the shipping cost to your residence within the continental United States, up to $2,000, and the piano will be shipped by September 1, 2021. An additional award (if desired) includes six 30-minute private Zoom lessons with Drs. Josh and/or Lindsey Wright within the first year of receiving the piano.
TAX: Once the winner has been chosen and has received the piano, in order to comply with U.S. tax laws, the winner will receive a 1099 tax form for the value of the piano and the cost of moving the piano (approximately $12,000, depending on shipping costs) before April 2022.
PRIVACY POLICY: Josh Wright reserves the right to use application materials in the decision-making process. By submitting an application, you acknowledge that we may use your contact information to send updates about the award. Personal information (address, phone number, and email) will be kept confidential and will not be used publicly. Josh Wright reserves the right to use submitted video footage, headshots, and any other application material (excluding personal information) when announcing the winner on his website and Youtube channel.

RHYTHM IRAQ

It is an honor for me to announce a collaboration with the AMAR foundation, an organization dedicated to restoring and rebuilding lives of refugees in the Middle East. Together we are creating the RHYTHM Iraq program - Restoring Hope To Youth Through Music. We have teamed up to create a piano curriculum that will serve as a musical therapy outlet for children suffering from PTSD and emotional trauma due to war. We will deliver keyboards and piano lessons to these youth as part of this program.