Marie Wurtz, United States

Marie Wurtz is currently pursuing undergraduate piano studies with James Giles at Northwestern University. She previously studied with Inesa Sinkevych at Manhattan School of Music Precollege and was named a 2022 Finalist by the National YoungArts Foundation.

Marie has participated in prestigious festivals including the 2018 Bowdoin International Music Festival (studio of Peter Serkin) and the Aspen Music Festival from 2022 to 2024, working with Arie Vardi, Anton Nel, Yoheved Kaplinsky, and Hung-Kuan Chen.

Recent awards include the Christa Bach-Marschall Foundation Prize at the 2025 International Bach Competition in Leipzig, the Nerenberg Award from the Musicians’ Club of Women in Chicago, and Third Prize in the Thaviu-Isaak Endowed Piano Competition. She won First Prize at the Philadelphia International Piano Competition and Northwestern University’s Dover Quartet Chamber Music Competition, as well as Second Prize at the Spotlight International Piano Competition.

Marie has taken part in master classes with the Dover Quartet, Gary Graffman, Alexander Korsantia, Michelle Cann, and Shai Wosner, and has studied privately with Maria João Pires.

First Round

  • Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude and Fugue in d minor, No. 6, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II, BWV 875
  • Frédéric Chopin: Étude in C Major, Op. 10, No. 1
  • Sergei Rachmaninoff: Étude-Tableau in D Major, Op. 39, No. 9
  • Fritz Kreisler (transcribed Rachmaninoff): “Liebesleid” (“Love’s Sorrow”)
  • Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101
    1. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung. Allegretto, ma non troppo
    2. Lebhaft, marschmäßig. Vivace alla marcia
    3. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll. Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto
    4. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit. Allegro

Quarterfinal Round

  • Olga Kern: Status Animae (State of Soul)—Two Pieces for Solo Piano
    1. Meditation
    2. Rhythm Obsession
  • Robert Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16
    1. Äußerst bewegt
    2. Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch
    3. Sehr aufgeregt
    4. Sehr langsam
    5. Sehr lebhaft
    6. Sehr langsam
    7. Sehr rasch
    8. Schnell und spielend
  • Samuel Barber: Sonata in e-flat minor, Op. 26
    1. Allegro energico
    2. Allegro vivace e leggero
    3. Adagio mesto
    4. Fuga: Allegro con spirito

Semifinal Round—Chamber Music

  • Johannes Brahms: Piano Quintet in f minor, Op. 34
    1. Allegro non troppo
    2. Andante, un poco adagio
    3. Scherzo: Allegro
    4. Finale: Poco sostenuto—Allegro non troppo—Presto, non troppo

Final Round

  • Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
    1. Andante—Allegro
    2. Tema con variazioni
    3. Allegro, ma non troppo

2025 Participants

Meet the People!

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