It gives me great pleasure to welcome you back to ArtePiano Masterclasses 2021. After a year of turmoil, uncertainty and loss caused by the current pandemic, which had an absolutely decimating effect on the world’s festival industry, we are looking and planning ahead with the hope of offering you a feast and variety of classical music activities during our annual APM sessions and festival. Last year, most music festivals across the globe were forced to cancel as governments banned large public gatherings in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19. We hope that 2021 will see these restrictions lifted so that we can resume with spreading the importance of classical music. We are optimistic and adamant to make up for all the lost opportunities in 2020.

A big reason for our optimism can be attributed to the birth of two big projects as a result of the impact of the pandemic on the classical music industry. Our 1st International ArtePiano E-competition went online in September, and by the closing date in December 2020 we have attracted 56 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 the sense of moving forward, to progress, and for all of us to feel active, creative and productive in our line of work that we love so much. Do visit our e-competition page to listen to all the participants’ performances.

Furthermore, we are very happy to announce the launch of ArtePiano Masterclasses in Italy! Instead of this year, we will be taking residency in the beautiful medieval town of Castelnuovo​ di Farfa, just outside Rome during the summer of 2022. We would like to invite as many of you as possible to join us there next year. More information will become available as soon as our dates are fixed. Also be on the look-out for advertisement of our 2nd International ArtePiano Competition!

The main goal with ArtePiano Masterclasses is to create a space for students of any age where they can work and practice freely and intensively for an upcoming examination, competition, concert, festival or audition. The master classes are also tailored for beginners and amateur pianists who would like to throw themselves into a full-on week/weekend of tuition, music making and performances. Apart from Italy, there will be two weekends throughout the year which will take place in the picturesque German town of Sankt Goar, situated on the west bank of the Rhine river and which magnificent mountains are dotted with castle ruins. Here, our venue is the Sankt Goar International Music Festival and Academy (SGIMFA) that is owned and managed by world renown opera singers and teachers Falko Hönisch, who is also the Mayor of Sankt Goar, and Dr. Emilio Pons.

Our permanent faculty of teachers the 2021/22 season will include myself, as well as fellow renown concert pianists and teachers Mark Nixon, Yuki Negishi and Roberto Russo. I would like to invite all pianists who are interested in furthering their pianistic skills to join ArtePiano Masterclasses to enjoy the experience of outstanding tuition, top live performances, meeting and making connections with like-minded people, and creating wonderful musical memories together.

Niel Du Preez