About Us

Discover the story behind the Piano Concerto Festival

About the festival

Born from a gap no one
else was filling

"When I originally founded this festival, it was to give young pianists a rare opportunity to play with an orchestra. How often in a piano competition do you see a young, talented soloist make it all the way to the final stage, only to deliver an unprepared final concerto performance?"

— Congyu Wang, Founder & Steinway Artist

That observation became the foundation of the Piano Concerto Festival. Most classical training programs focus on solo repertoire — leaving one of the most important musical skills largely untaught: how to perform a full concerto alongside a live orchestra. We were created to change that.

Now in its 6th edition, the festival brings together pianists from around the world for a week of intensive rehearsals, one-on-one masterclasses, and a live orchestral performance in Paris — one of the world's great cultural capitals. Every participant leaves with a professional recording of their performance, produced by world-class music producer Chris Craker.

6th Edition in 2026
40+ Pianists per edition
37 Professional musicians
13 International faculty

Our journey so far

1st Edition — Budapest, Hungary

The festival launched in Budapest, one of Europe's great classical music cities, and home to a rich tradition of piano performance.

2nd Edition — Bulgaria

The second edition expanded east, bringing the festival to Bulgaria's vibrant and internationally connected music scene.

3rd & 4th Editions — Faro, Portugal

Two editions in Faro, held at prestigious venues including Teatro Lethes and Teatro Figuras, established the festival's reputation for exceptional performance settings.

5th & 6th Editions — Paris, France

The festival found its home in Paris — hosted at the Conservatoire de Courbevoie, a world-class venue at the heart of European musical life.

Our partners & affiliations

Over six editions, we have built lasting relationships with some of the most respected names in classical music.

Steinway & Sons Lang Lang International Music Foundation Alink-Argerich Foundation Ville de Courbevoie Pacific Stars International Piano Competition Algarve Music Series Piano Island Management

Our mission

The Piano Concerto Festival exists to give every serious pianist — regardless of background or career stage — the experience of performing a full concerto with a professional orchestra. We believe that experience transforms musicians. It builds confidence, deepens musicality, and creates memories that last a lifetime. Music is also a cultural bridge: we support charitable causes, engage local communities, and foster international collaboration across every edition.

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