ClaviCologne 2026 Opens with Masterclasses, Concerts, and Special Visit to the Angelo Fabbrini Showroom

The 13th edition of the ClaviCologne International Piano Festival officially opened on Tuesday 4th August in the spectacular Italian city of Pescara, marking the beginning of five days of high-level piano masterclasses, concerts, and workshops at the Conservatory of Music “Luisa D’Annunzio”.

Led by President Konstantin Ishkhanov and Artistic Director Giuliano Mazzoccante, this year’s festival is bringing together talented young pianists from around the world for an intensive academy experience on Italy’s Adriatic coast, running from the 4th to the 8th of the month.  

For this opening day, students were treated to a full programme of piano masterclasses led by several of the festival’s distinguished professors, including Michel Béroff (France), Milana Chernyavska (Germany/Ukraine), Pietro De Maria (Italy), Pavel Gililov (Austria), Giuliano Mazzoccante (Italy), Hans-Peter Stenzl (Germany), and Volker Stenzl (Germany). Students were able to work closely with these internationally renowned musicians and pedagogues, receiving individual guidance on interpretation, technique, sound, and performance approach.

Speaking during the festival’s launch, Hans-Peter Stenzl praised the atmosphere of the festival and the standard of the students taking part. “So far it’s wonderful,” he said. “A very harmonious atmosphere, everybody is very serious, and the students play to a high level! There is also a very wide range of nationalities among the students, which is a great thing to see.”

Hans-Peter also made reference to the festival’s lunchtime concerts, noting that he “heard some really good contributions”, and indeed, this first day also featured the first entry of ClaviCologne’s Lunchtime Concert Series, offering participants an opportunity to perform before fellow students, professors, and festival guests. The concert today featured performances by Carmen Dilara Bagis, Nichita-Ioan Rusu, Stanislaus O’Beirne, Viktoriia Koloniuk, and Lipin Xiao, who were met with widespread acclaim, setting an energetic tone for the days ahead.

Meanwhile, for Professor Volker Stenzl, the festival also made an immediate strong impression, with the maestro stating that “right from the beginning, from the first contact, we realised that ClaviCologne is organised very professionally! Coming here, we feel very comfortable, everything works well, and it’s fantastic to meet all these colleagues and students.” Reflecting on the value of such academies for young musicians, he added that “ClaviCologne has now existed for 13 years already, and to see so many students of all age groups coming every year to study with international professors shows that it's really valuable and that they profit from all the masterclasses that the festival offers.”

Moreover, beyond the masterclass rooms, students also got the unique opportunity to enjoy a special visit to the legendary Angelo Fabbrini Showroom in Pescara, an exclusive activity designed to expand their music education, broaden their understanding of the professional piano world, and offer a closer look at one of the most respected names associated with concert instruments.

Now, after a highly eventful start, another packed day awaits students and professors alike, as ClaviCologne 2026 continues with more masterclasses, concerts, and events on Wednesday 5th August, giving participants the chance to continue progressing on their artistic journeys, and contributing to another memorable chapter in the history of this celebrated international piano festival.

For all the latest details, make sure to follow the official website at clavicologne.com now!