2026 Aird Prize announcement

Congratulations to our 2026 Aird prize winner, Liu Changrui! His piece, Light pierces through the clouds, will be performed at Earplay's May 31, 2027 concert at Noe Valley Ministry. Stay tuned for more details!

Earplay sponsors the annual Earplay Donald Aird Composers Competition, open to composers of any nationality and any age. Earplay performs the prizewinning piece and presents a cash prize of $1,500 to the winning composer. The competition honors the late composer/conductor/Earplay board member Donald Aird, an ardent supporter of the creation and performance of new music.

Thank you to everyone who submitted their work, and again, congratulations Liu!

About The Composer

Liu Changrui was born in Qingdao, China in 2005. He is currently an undergraduate student majoring in composition at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, studying under Professor Li Bo. In addition, he is also active on the stage as a collaborative pianist, performing internationally with a variety of Chinese artists.