International Piano Chamber Music Festival

Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Festival

This year, the Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Festival takes place at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - and we want you to hear all about it.

Eight young ensembles have been selected to be part of the coveted programme, and each are now set to perform a public recital and take part in masterclasses with leading artists during the course of the festival. Of these eight, three ensembles will then be selected to progress to the concluding concert in what promises to be an exciting, grand finish to the festival on Fri 23 Nov, where the following prizes will be awarded:

First prize

• £4000
• A commercial recording with Resonus Classics, for CD and download.
• Mentorship from an experienced chamber music artist.
• Professional engagements, including: Wigmore Hall, London, Winchester Chamber Music festival, Ulverston Music Festival, London and Chamber Circle, Brussels

The two remaining finalists will receive second prizes of:

• £1500

• DVD recording of their final performance

Download the  Competition Regulations   

Chamber music is a multi-layered medium, in the wealth and depth of its repertoire as well as the skills and characteristics required to realise it.

It is music for sharing, both with one's performing colleagues and the audience, and is therefore somewhat confessional. It is open to wide-ranging interpretation, despite often being put together by composers with great intellectual rigour.

Our festival includes a competition, which in this discipline may seem like something of a paradox, but our event is as collegiate and inclusive as possible. We will make music together; each competing ensemble will give a recital and take part in masterclasses; all jury members will also perform as part of the festival programme. There will be performances from gifted Royal Birmingham Conservatoire students, and masterclass opportunities for students across the UK.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has put chamber music at its heart with inspiring results.

Daniel Tong

Head of Piano Chamber Music, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Pianist, London Bridge Trio
Founder, Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival and Winchester Chamber Music Festival

Our Venues

Concerts, including the grand final of the competition, will take place each evening during the festival in the magnificent new Concert Hall (pictured, right) at the conservatoire.

Daytime events, including preliminary competition recitals take place in the more intimate Recital Hall.

Competition Jury

Adam Binks, record producer; founder, Resonus Classics 
Katya Apekisheva, piano professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Michael Gurevich (violinist, London Haydn Quartet, formerly Rhodes Piano Trio)
Robin Ireland, violist, Domus, Lindsay Quartet; Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Alice Neary, cellist, Gould Trio; Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (pictured, right)
Christoph Richter, cellist; Folkwang University of the Arts, Essen; Royal Academy of Music, London
John Thwaites, pianist, Primrose Piano Quartet; Head of Keyboard, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Daniel Tong, pianist, London Bridge Trio; Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Joining the jury members for festival concerts will be the London Bridge Trio, Gould Trio, students of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and more.

Daniel Tong, our director, has written in more detail about the event:
To read about why we believe a festival devoted to the piano in chamber music is overdue, click here.
To read more about the background to our competition and its ethos, click here.

The festival is extremely grateful to the Carne Trust, Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust and Fidelio Trust for their support.