The eighth RNCM James Mottram International Piano Competition (JMIPC) 2023 will take place at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK from Monday 27 November – Saturday 2 December 2023.

This major biennial event offers an all-round learning experience for young pianists under 30 from all over the world.

All participants will receive invaluable learning opportunities: those who do not progress to the next stage of the competition will be given the opportunity to take part in a public masterclass given by a jury member during their time in Manchester.

Applying as a participant

Applications for the 2023 James Mottram International Piano Competition 2023 are now open. Full information on how to apply and regulations for the competition can be found in the JMIPC – How to Apply section below. Alternatively, you can apply by clicking the following link:

Apply for the 2023 James Mottram International Piano Competition. 

Who was James Mottram?

The RNCM James Mottram International Piano Competition was inaugurated in 2008 thanks to a generous bequest from the late James Mottram. James Mottram was born in March 1930 in Stockport, Cheshire and studied Psychology at the University of Oxford. In 1961, he took up the post of lecturer in the School of Politics and Contemporary History at Salford University, before taking early retirement in 1982.

James Mottram was a keen piano enthusiast, and particularly enjoyed the works of Scarlatti, Chopin and Debussy. It was his lifetime ambition to see an international piano competition staged in Manchester to celebrate the music of his favourite composers, and to provide a platform for the next generation of talented pianists.