The competition, which commemorates the 200^th anniversary of Chopin's birth, is being organised by the Chopin Society (Singapore) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

The Vietnamese pianists, who are aged between 10-16, will be competing in four of the five categories.

Do Hoang Linh Chi, 13, and Hoang Ho Thu, 15, have a lot of experience of international competition, said Ta Quang Dong, a lecturer at the Vietnam National Conservatoire, who will be accompanying the competitors.

"The contestants can decide for themselves which Chopin pieces they wish to play. The Hanoi International Piano Contest that was held last September helped the contestants enrich their Chopin repertoire," said Dong.

"The competition is being held for the first time but it is prestigious because of the caliber of the judging panel."

The panel consists of Gabriel Kwok, who has been head of Keyboard Studies at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts since 1989; Francesco Nicolosi, who is one of the most distinguished pianists of the Italian tradition; Snezana Panovska, a highly acclaimed piano professor, who stems from the Republic of Macedonia; Wojciech Switata, a professor at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice; and Warren Thompson, head of the School of Extension Studies at Sydney Conservatorium.