Dear Friends, 

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the fourth edition of the Classic Piano International Competition, as we celebrate ten years since the founding of this remarkable project. Over the past decade, Classic Piano has grown into a truly international platform, bringing together outstanding young artists from across the world and offering them meaningful opportunities to develop, connect, and share their artistry on some of the most prestigious stages of our time.

This latest edition reflects our most ambitious vision to date. The six preliminary contests taking place across major cultural centres all over the globe in 2027 ensure that the journey to the final stage is as diverse and dynamic as the international musical landscape itself, while the Grand Finale, hosted at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, will bring together the most exceptional young pianists of their generation in a majestic setting that celebrates both tradition and artistic excellence.

At its heart, Classic Piano has always been about more than just a competition; it is about creating opportunities, building bridges between cultures, and supporting the next generation of musicians as they take their first steps onto the world stage. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Artistic Director for this edition, Michel Beroff, as well as the many people who have been hard at work behind the scenes to bring this event to life, and hope that you will all follow on this journey with us as we discover the remarkable talents that define Classic Piano!

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I am very proud to welcome you all to the 2028 Classic Piano International Competition! Over the past few years, this competition has truly managed to establish itself as one of the most exciting and unique events in the global classical music landscape, and it is a real honour for me to serve as Artistic Director for this fourth entry, which is looking to build upon the rich foundations that are already firmly in place.

The structure of this edition, built around six preliminary contests leading to a final phase with orchestra, allows us to engage with a wide range of talents while maintaining the highest artistic standards at every stage. By the time the finalists arrive in Barcelona, they will have already demonstrated not only their technical abilities, but also their musical maturity and capacity to connect with audiences, ensuring that we will be treated to performances of the very highest level during the Grand Finale. 

As Artistic Director, my aim is to ensure that Classic Piano remains a space where musicality is placed at the forefront, where interpretation, creativity, and musical understanding are valued as highly as virtuosity, and where we can work to identify not just outstanding performers, but true musicians.

I would like to thank the President of this competition, Konstantin Ishkhanov, who has been the driving force behind its growth and success from the very beginning, and look forward to joining our esteemed jurors, who have gathered here just for this occasion, in discovering the artists who will define not only this edition of Classic Piano, but the next generation of international piano talent!