Van Cliburn Amateur Competition

[Shagdac]

I am planning to "try" and enter the Van Cliburn Competition for Amateurs for 2006 and have begun to prepare now w/ a coach.  They recommend you play what you love to play and from the heart, not necessarily the "fastest, loudest and hardest" sounding pieces.  However, after much research it seems that's what most of the other entries are playing.  Many times the same pieces are played over and over, only by different finalists.  Does anyone have any experience with this competition, or entering before?  Any suggestions for pieces to consider for audition tape/CD? Also, looking for advise on pieces from different periods. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[cziffra]

They recommend you play what you love to play and from the heart, not necessarily the "fastest, loudest and hardest" sounding pieces.  However, after much research it seems that's what most of the other entries are playing

to me, that's even MORE of a reason not to play the fastest loudest and hardest pieces