Ono Wins Orléans International Piano Competition
Japanese pianist Mizuki Ono took first prize at the 17th Orléans International Piano Competition, which is dedicated to adult pianists up to age 36.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Classical
Mizuki Ono, a 30-year-old Japanese pianist, won the overall first prize at the 17th Orléans International Piano Competition 2026. Carter Muller took second prize and Shan-Chi Hsu took third prize at the same competition.
Why it matters
The result highlights the Orléans competition, founded in 1994 by Françoise Thinat, which the organizers describe as the only international piano competition focusing exclusively on music since 1900. Its adult category gives mid-career pianists an international platform for recognition.
Ono's first prize carried a €12,000 value through the ORCOM Foundation-Blanche Selva award, and the competition's adult category is restricted to pianists up to age 36. The full scoring breakdown and jury results were not included in the source material.
The players
Mizuki Ono
A 30-year-old Japanese pianist from Aichi, Japan, who is based in Tokyo and won the overall first prize at the 2026 Orléans competition.
Orléans International Piano Competition
A competition founded in 1994 by Françoise Thinat that focuses exclusively on music since 1900 and alternates each year between an adult and a junior edition.
The details
Ono also received the Elliott Carter Prize and the Henri Dutilleux-Geneviève Joy Residency. Linda Ruan and Haruka Ugaji also received specialized prizes, including the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Composers' Prize and the Edison Denisov Prize.
Timeline
2024: Ono won Third Prize at the Contemporary Music Performance Competition 'Kyogaku XVI'.
2026: The 17th Orléans International Piano Competition awarded its prizes to adult pianists.
Big Picture
The Orléans competition alternates each year between its adult edition and the junior 'Brin d'herbe' edition, so this result belongs to the adult cycle that gives pianists up to age 36 a dedicated international stage.
Listeners interested in the winners can follow their upcoming concerts and recordings through the performers' own channels. Competition prizes such as the Orléans residency typically open paths to future performances and recording opportunities.
The takeaway
Competitions like Orléans give emerging pianists a structured route into international recognition through prizes, residencies, and repeat exposure. Audiences can track the careers of prize winners as their programs and recordings are announced.
Further reading
For more on classical music competitions and the performers who compete in them, explore Classical.
Source note: This article includes information reported by World's Leading Classical Music Platform.
