Between 25 February and 4 March, the first International Piano Competition of the Ljubljana Festival took place in Ljubljana – a week of outstanding music-making, remarkable interpretations, and unforgettable artistic moments.
An Unforgettable Week of Pianistic Excellence
Outstanding young pianists from around the world took to the stage, captivating both the audience and the distinguished jury with highly demanding and inspiring performances. The competition was marked by an exceptional level of musicality, technical mastery, and artistic maturity, confirming that the future of piano artistry is in excellent hands.
Our sincere congratulations go to the First Prize winner, Kai-Min Chang, who impressed the nine-member international jury. We also warmly congratulate Second Prize winner Yuanfan Yang and Kostandin Tashko, recipient of the 6th Prize. Special prizes were awarded to Ilja Šmukler, Yuanfan Yang, Jonathan Mak, and Urban Stanič – each leaving a powerful artistic impression with their performances.
Heartfelt congratulations also to all other competitors. Being selected to participate in such a demanding international competition is already a remarkable achievement. We wish them continued success, inspiration, and courage in their future artistic careers.
Intense, Demanding – and Truly Rewarding
The competition was exceptionally intense and demanding – not only for the competitors, but also for the technical and organizational teams. Long days of rehearsals, performances, coordination, and preparation required complete dedication from everyone involved. Yet the effort was richly rewarded: all participants were granted an invaluable experience filled with extraordinary musical moments.
Special thanks go to the distinguished jury, chaired by the renowned pianist and professor Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak, who faced the challenging task of evaluating an outstanding field of performances. Their professionalism, integrity, and commitment were essential to the credibility and prestige of the competition.
The Grand Final Evenings
The competition culminated in two final evenings, featuring six finalists performing with the Simfonični orkester RTV Slovenija under the baton of conductor Ricardo Castro. The synergy between soloists and orchestra created a truly exceptional musical experience that will remain in the memories of performers and audiences alike.
For those who were unable to attend the first or second final evening, recordings are available on the Facebook profile of the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition.
Proud to Continue a Tradition of Excellence
Our sincere gratitude also goes to Paolo Fazioli and Luca Fazioli for their continuous support throughout the competition and for their visit to Slovenia.
We are especially proud that our concert grand piano, the Fazioli F278, continues the tradition of victories achieved by Fazioli pianos at major international competitions. Its depth of tone, color palette, and responsiveness enabled the finalists to express their artistic vision at the highest level.
Congratulations to the entire Ljubljana Festival organizing team for delivering an outstanding inaugural international piano competition. We firmly believe this marks the beginning of a distinguished tradition that will further establish Ljubljana as an important destination on the global map of piano artistry.
PHOTO: Darja Štravs Tisu Photography
