Those who enjoy the art and excitement of piano competitions should turn their attention to Plano and Richardson this weekend. The Viardo International Piano Competition will bring together talented young people Friday through Sunday.

The competition is open to two age groups: 12 to 17 and 18-up. Entrants have been selected through audio CD auditions. The semifinal round, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday at Custer Road United Methodist Church at 6601 Custer Road in Plano. The final round (tickets are $15 to $25) will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday at Eisemann Center in Richardson. The Plano Symphony Orchestra will accompany concerto performances.

Judges are Vladimir Viardo, Jean Fassina, Liu Shi Kun, Daniel Pollack and Marian Rybicki.

The competition has been organized by Viardo, who won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1973 as well as the Marguerite Long – Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris in 1971. The former Soviet virtuoso is an artist-in-residence at the University of North Texas in Denton.