For nearly 40 years, the Dublin International Piano Competition (DIPC) has brought the world’s top young pianists to Ireland to compete. In addition to a generous cash prize, winners are offered a suite of international engagements, including a Carnegie Hall debut recital. On November 4, 2026 at 7:30 pm, the 2025 winner of the DIPC Carter Johnson performs at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. In this insider interview, we spoke to Johnson about his upcoming program, his “personal statement piece,” and the significance of winning an a major international competition.
Tell us about your program at Carnegie Hall, and what ties the repertoire together?
Robert Schumann has been the composer I have been closest to over the past couple of years, so I wanted nothing more than for my Carnegie Hall debut to be themed around his music. And as the Arabeske and the Ghost Variations are some of Schumann’s more delicate fare, I wanted to punctuate them with some 20th century music, which is also one of my repertoire cornerstones. I settled on the Bartók Sonata, which has been a well-loved piece for me for many years, and the Schnittke Prelude and Fugue, which is the newest of all the pieces for me, and was included partially because I felt my debut wouldn’t be complete without a fugue!
Tell us about Davidsbündlertänze and why you chose to include it on your program?
I wouldn’t have considered ending this recital with any work other than the Davidsbündler — if I were asked to identify one piece that was to be my “personal statement”, this would be it. The work contains a glimpse into every corner of the human experience before its glowingly hopeful benediction. Truly I think it is one of the most divine creations in all of music.
Congratulations on winning top prize at the Dublin International Piano Competition! What was that experience like for you?
Thank you! The competition was an utter delight from beginning to end, a whirlwind of performances that included particularly memorable collaborations with the string quartet and orchestra, who were magnificent partners. I made fabulous connections with competition organizers, fellow contestants, jury members, my host family — everyone! Actually this was my second time doing this competition, and even the weather was so much better this time!
How do you expect that winning the DIPC will influence the trajectory of your career?
The DIPC is among the top piano competitions in the world, boasting a particularly rich history, so no doubt the trajectory has already been influenced quite a bit! But moving forward from here I look forward to working with the DIPC and their many connections to organize as many performances as possible. Particularly as the majority of my concerts are in North America, the DIPC is an important link for me into the European market. I will always be grateful to the competition for the many opportunities they have provided.