Can it be that aspiring musicians do not enter competitions because they don’t want to lose? It might make sense. Or it may be an easy way out. I’m surprised by the competition-reticence of some young pianists.
Not suffering disappointment in competitions may keep an artist’s work and motivation pure. Not being known to have lost competitions may be useful professionally. Or, lacking the severe scrutiny of the competition platform, a player’s potential level of delivery and coherence may not be achieved.
While competitions don’t always reward the most powerful artistic communication, they do offer tangible opportunities to play. They may be overheated, or somewhat confining opportunities. But a competition can be a tool — and used as a workshop.