I just came across a web site for the first annual International
Piano-e-Competition.  The final round just completed on June 17th, and
the winner was Mei-Ting Sun, an American student studying at Juilliard.
The first prize was worth $25,000.  In addition to a potential boost for
his career, he won the $1,500 Schubert Sonata Award.  Second prize, worth
$15,000, went to Canadian Victoria Korchinskaya-Kogan, who studied at the
Moscow State Conservatory and Texas Christian University.  The concept is
rather novel.  Rather than try and describe it, I'll paraphrase from the
web site:

   Through advanced technology, including the use of pianos capable of
   transmitting the pianists' performances via MIDI through the Internet,
   the Piano-e-Competition can be judged from any location.  This concept
   enables the e-Competition to attract to the jury great musicians who
   would otherwise be prevented from participating by their busy schedules.

   For the first e-Competition, two juries will be assembled: one,
   "on site", consisting of seven jurors; with an additional "off site"
   judge added for the finals.  This judge will adjudicate from his
   "home" location.  ...

   The Internet will be used to inform and educate those unable to attend
   the actual competition.  A competition website will provide information
   on participants, works being performed and offer additional educational
   elements.  For the duration of the competition, all solo performances
   will be stored on the Internet, accessible at any time.  All rounds
   and the Gala Concert will be broadcast over the Internet.

The site is up, and includes both MIDI files of the earlier rounds, and
video of the finals.  There are also performer bios and other materials.
It can be found at:

   http://www.piano-e-competition.com/

Dave
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http://www.classical.net/