The BMC Piano Competition, sponsored by the Zimmerli Foundation, occurs in the second half of the BMC summer season and is open to all full-session pianists.

Applications for the BMC Piano Competition are available after arrival at the Music Center.

Students compete with a solo program of their choice, lasting 30 to 40 minutes and containing repertoire chosen from at least three style periods. Repertoire must be approved by BMC piano faculty. Because of the format of the competition, potential competitors are encouraged to perform shorter works. Single movements from multi-movement works, e.g., sonatas, are allowed.

The competition occurs in two rounds, during the fifth week of the season:

• In the preliminary round, on Saturday, competitors perform approximately 15 minutes. Competitors select the first piece; a judge may ask for any other piece from the competitor's repertoire list. The preliminary round is closed to the public.
• The final round, on Sunday evening, occurs on the stage of the Porter Center and is open to the public. Each of five finalists performs a twenty-minute program drawn from the competitor's repertoire list. Winners are announced at the end of the concert.

There are five cash prizes: $3000, $2000, $1000, and two awards of $500. The top three contestants receive full scholarships to the Brevard Music Center for the following year.

Should no finalist come from the high school division, then the high school student who places highest in the preliminary round will receive a cash prize of $500.