Jeune Chopin

Jeune Chopin International Piano Competition for Children and Youth Lugano, Switzerland 28 - 31 III 2025

Jeune Chopin International Piano Competition for Children and Youth

The Frédéric Chopin Institute in Switzerland is organizing the fourth edition of the International Young Chopin Competition for Young Pianists, which will be held in Lugano (Switzerland), in the Auditorio Stelio Molo from 28th to 31st of March 2025. Martha Argerich will preside over the fourth edition which will be dedicated to the memory of Janusz Olejniczak, Alexis Golovine and the late Maurizio Pollini. For two intensive days, young interpreters will be presenting their virtuosic craftsmanship at Lugano’s renowned Auditorio Stelio Molo in front of eyes of the jury members. The aim of International Piano Competition Jeune Chopin is to re-discover the music of Frédéric Chopin by young performers from all over the world and present themselves in a front of the greatest, globally-renowned Chopin interpreters, who have been and still are invited to judge at the great Frederic Chopin International Competition in Warsaw. Our competition aims to become a certain bridge leading young interpreters into the stunning yet extremely demanding polish competition. We are honored to have received patronage from Polish National Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw and Martha Argerich.

Magdalena Hirsz // director of the competition
President of Chopin Institute in Switzerland

Jury

Martha Argerich

Martín García García

Cédric Pescia

Magdalena Hirsz

Alberto Nosè

When & Where

The competition will be officially inaugurated on the 28th of March 2025 in the Auditorio Stelio Molo by Martha Argerich and other members of the jury. Young interpreters will be presenting their virtuosic craft from the 28th to the 31st of March in the Auditorio Stelio Molo in Lugano surrounded by beautiful landscapes of the Lugano Prealps and Lake Lugano.

For many years, Lugano has been home of Progetto Martha Argerich, a unique cultural platform, which has created possibility for renowned artists, virtuoso-instrumentalists from around the globe to cooperate, share their knowledge, craft and artistic visions. That has resulted in unique interpretations being born and outstanding collective artistic output recorded for EMI/Universal. Martha Argerich’s initiative has shaped the importance of Lugano on the cultural map of the world. We are deeply honoured to hold the IV edition of Jeune Chopin there, in Lugano, under Martha Argerich’s patronage and with her guidance.

Frédéric Chopin loved bel canto above all forms of operatic vocal expression. His work, his compositions convey that very technique. We hope that by being so close to Italy, the spirits of legendary bel canto interpreters will aid young artists in discovering the most-cherished interpretational techniques of Chopin, required to perform his works faithfully.

Opening

On the 28th of March 2025, the drama, romanticism and outstandingly excelled piano craft will meet together in the Auditorio Stelio Molo. The jurors of the IV International Piano competition Jeune Chopin, guided by the formidable diva of the pianofote – Martha Argerich – will evoke the memories of the ephemeral charm which once had captivated XIX century ball halls in Paris, intimate study rooms of Chopin and Debussy and the profound imaginative paths of harmony.

The programme:

Magdalena Hirsz
Frédéric Chopin: Mazurkas op.67 et op.68

Martha Argerich
Frédéric Chopin : Préludes op.28

Martha Argerich et Magdalena Hirsz
Claude Debussy : Six Epigraphes Antiques, 4 hands

Alberto Nosè
Frédéric Chopin : Nocturne en do op.48 no 1, Ballade en fa mineur op. 52 no 4

Cédric Pescia
J. S. Bach : Suite Française en Sol majeur no 5 BWV 816

Martin Garcia Garcia
Frédéric Chopin : Impromptu Op. 51 No. 3 in G-flat major
Impromptu Op. 29 No. 1 in A-flat major
Impromptu Op. 36 No. 2 in F-sharp major
Fantaisie-Impromptu Op. 66 in C-sharp minor