It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the ArtePiano International Festival & Piano Competition 2022. After almost two years of turmoil, uncertainty and loss due to the coronavirus pandemic which had an absolutely decimating effect on the world’s festival industry, we are back with the clear vision of offering a festival which includes world-class tuition and performances, as well as an exciting international piano competition during our first year of residency in Castelnuovo di Farfa, Italy. In 2020 and 2021 most music festivals in Europe and the UK were forced to cancel as governments banned large public gatherings in an attempt to slow down the spread of Covid-19. We are confident that 2022 will see all these restrictions lifted so that we can resume with spreading the importance and passion of making music. Not all were lost during the pandemic. Two big projects were born as a result of the impact on the classical music industry.

Our 1st International ArtePiano E-competition went online in September 2020, and by the closing date in December we have attracted around 60 talented pianists from all around the world. The aim with the competition was to give young and talented performers something to work for during lockdown, to build their resumes, and to offer them concerts through winning a prize. We felt the importance in creating these opportunities to ensure a feeling of moving forward, to progress, and for all of us to feel active and productive in our specialised fields. The other project and goal was to establish our festival in Castelnuovo di Farfa. The town and its people became extremely close to our hearts, and after endless discussions and consideration it was presented to the mayor and his team who wholeheartedly accepted our proposal. For this I will always be tremendously grateful towards everyone who is, and has been supporting us. Our main objective is to create the ideal space for students where they can immerse themselves in a full week of piano tuition – the perfect opportunity to prepare oneself for an upcoming competition, practical examination, concert, festival or audition. Furthermore, students will benefit from performance opportunities and from attending concerts by our stellar cast of performing artists. Our permanent faculty of teachers for 2022 will include fellow renown concert pianists and teachers Mark Nixon (South Africa), Yuki Negishi (Japan) and Roberto Russo (Italy) who will all be performing during the week as well. We are also extremely honoured and excited to welcome our guest artists from countries such as Sweden, Spain, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom and Serbia. Another important event is the 2nd International ArtePiano Competition which will be held over two days towards the end of the festival. If the standard is anything close to what we have experienced during the first edition, then you are in for an exquisite feast of musical virtuosity and artistry.

I would therefore like to invite you all to join us for a magical week of music making in the beautiful Italian countryside.

We at ArtePiano hope to see you there!.

Niel Du Preez