ChopinPianoFEST Prishtina 2024

On the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, the Kosovo Chopin Association established the Chopin Piano FEST Prishtina, member of the International Federation of Chopin Associations – which is a part of Unesco. The festival’s great success and appreciation by the larger audience in Kosovo have helped turn it into a brand, held annually in spring. As we approach the 13th edition, we are hoping to build upon the success of last year’s festival, which was evaluated as among the best classical music festivals by critics and institutions. This has led institutions to inquire about more masterclasses and other events throughout the year, which has greatly enhanced our educational programme, which is a pivotal component of our festival.

The ChopinPianoFEST Prishtina is a music festival that is highly regarded by critics, media, and fans as an excellent presentation of piano performance mastery. In addition to featuring world-renowned pianists, the festival also serves as an exchange platform between Kosovar artists and those from other countries around the world. In this festival, musicians from countries that have not yet recognised Kosovo as a nation have been hosted as part of the common language of communication and cooperation. Thus, it contributes to the public/cultural diplomacy of our country as well. In addition to featuring concerts, the festival is committed to providing a diverse array of activities that aim to empower and inspire up-and-coming classical musicians in their professional pursuits, including EduWeek, the Special Prize competition, and the Chopin-inspired Compositional Competition.

Our work and dedication over the years have led to a partnership with the most prominent festivals in the region, through the EU Project #Synergy for Classical Music in the Western Balkans https://synergyproject.info/. The project focused on the exchange of activities, information, and experiences from festivals in Ljubljana, Belgrade, Kotor, Tirana, Dubrovnik, and Prishtina. This regional cooperation element is an added value to Chopin Piano Fest. It expands the scope of activities when it comes to programming, financing, and managing cultural events in the region. One of the main elements of this project is the promotion of composers’ and artists’ exchanges between the countries. In July 2023, two concerts featuring young musicians cooperating from six countries and performing newly composed pieces was the highlight event.

Chopin Piano FEST Prishtina 2024 will start on May 9, 2024, on Europe Day. Each week will feature two to three events until the closing concert on June 9, 2023. The traditional cooperation with the Kosovo Philharmonics, features the french well known pianist Francois Dumont, on the 25th of May. The festival will offer concerts, masterclasses with students, and other relevant activities.