21st Century Piano Commission Competition
Winners of the 25th Annual 21st Century Piano Commission
Graduate students Chawin Temsittichok (composer) and Chin-Hsuan (Sharon) Cheng (pianist) have received the honor of the Twenty-Fifth Annual 21st Century Piano Commission.
The University of Illinois School of Music is pleased to announce that Chawin Temsittichok and Chin-Hsuan Cheng have been awarded the $2,000 Twenty-Fifth Annual 21st Century Piano Commission. This esteemed award is presented jointly to a graduate student composer and a performer, with each receiving a $1,000 prize and the opportunity to present their work in a featured concert.
The commissioned composition, along with additional selected works, will be performed in a special concert on Thursday, February 12th, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the Foellinger Great Hall at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. This annual event provides a distinguished platform for emerging composers and performers to share their artistry and innovation with the community.
The 21st Century Piano Commission is an endowed award made possible through the generosity of Jana Mason and her husband, Richard Anderson. Their support honors the exceptional talents of new composers and performers at the University of Illinois, fostering the creation and presentation of contemporary musical works.