The International Piano Competition of Friuli Venezia Giulia, now in its 26th edition, continues to be a highly prestigious event, attracting young musicians from all over the world. The registration process has successfully concluded, with nearly 70 competitors from various nations signing up. Despite the demanding nature of the competition—which, unlike other contests, requires physical presence during the preliminary rounds and engages participants for an entire two-year period—interest has remained high, as confirmed by the numbers.

Among the participants, there are 51 men and 17 women, showing a clear male predominance. The average age of the competitors is 25 years. The youngest contestant is Hanna Tomina (18 years old), while the most experienced competitors, at 31 years old, are Noam Babany, Wei Nen Chee, Jae-Hyeong Cho, Yuki Kamiya, and Junwoo Lee. This demonstrates how the competition serves as an important opportunity for emerging talents and young professionals eager to test themselves on a prestigious stage.

The registered pianists come from nearly 20 nations. Italy is the most represented country with 23 participants, followed by China (12), Japan (5), and South Korea (6). Other countries with registered competitors include Russia, Albania, Belarus, Serbia, North Macedonia, Croatia, Austria, Poland, India, Georgia, the USA, Switzerland, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Taiwan, Portugal, and France. The participation of pianists from the Balkan region is on the rise, while it is pleasantly surprising to see first-time participants from India, North Macedonia, and Malaysia.

It is important to note that some countries currently involved in international conflicts, such as Russia and Ukraine, have experienced a significant drop in participation compared to previous years. This inevitably reflects the impact of geopolitical tensions on the mobility of young artists and their participation in international music competitions.

Analyzing the repertoire chosen by the contestants, it is evident that new piano talents continue to favor classical composers such as Beethoven, Chopin, Ravel, Liszt, Haydn, Brahms, and many others, showing a strong preference for the traditional and Romantic repertoire.

Many have also chosen to perform Preludio Mnemes Op. 2, which, although not mandatory, allows competitors to compete for the “Giuseppe Molinari” scholarship. The piece, composed by Sacile-born Giuseppe Molinari, evidently represents an enjoyable challenge at the keyboard for young pianists.

The International Piano Competition of Friuli Venezia Giulia thus reaffirms itself—with great satisfaction from the entire staff and the pride of Artistic Director Davide Fregona—as a prominent event in the international music scene, offering young pianists a valuable opportunity for artistic growth and exchange. The large participation and high quality of the candidates testify to the growing prestige of the competition, which stands out for its commitment to fostering talent and promoting musical culture.

As the competition approaches, participants must now focus on their programs, ready to demonstrate their skills before a distinguished jury and an attentive and passionate audience.