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PIANISSIMA INTERNATIONAL
The 1st Hauts-de-France International Piano Competition
Marcq-en-Baroeul, one of only 4 towns in France with an international school, has supported the Pianissima International competition since its inception. It's right next to the city of Lille, so it's very easy to get to.
The competition was created in 2014, and Denis Simándy, who is also Artistic Director of the Clef de Soleil Festival, took over as director in 2019.
While it allows beginners and amateurs from the age of 5 to take part, in its higher and pre-professional categories it welcomes candidates of all nationalities and of a very high technical level.
A jury of musical personalities sits on the jury every year.
Since its creation, our jury presidents have been :
- Diane Andersen
- Eliane Reyes
- Gabriel Tacchino
- David Lively
- Sabine Weyer
- Vittorio Forte
- Cyprien Katsaris
Some of the prize-winners have since embarked on very successful professional careers, such as :
- Maxime Sauze, 2019
- Chiyoon Han, 2022
- Li Ruirong, 2023
- Mathis Cathignol, 2024
- Lee Hyun Hee, 2024
During the deliberations, a concert given by renowned artists is offered free of charge to the public. We were delighted to welcome :
- Tristan Raës
- Shani Diluka
- Vanessa Benelli-Mosell
- François Dumont
- Sabine Weyer
- Maxime Sauze
- Manon Barbé
The 2025 Jury
Cyprien KATSARIS, President of the Jury
Élodie VIGNON
Alexander PALEY
Peiwen CHEN
Tristan PFAFF
Loïc SERRURIER
Denis SIMÁNDY
The 2025 programme
Concert offered during the proceedings on Sunday 27 April at 5.30 p.m.
Tristan pfaff
In 2000, Tristan Pfaff was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied with Michel Béroff, Christian Ivaldi and Daria Hovora. Another famous pianist contributed to his training: ‘I was invited to take a masterclass with Aldo Ciccolini in 2007, after which he said he was willing to listen to me again. So I had the privilege of receiving his advice for a whole year.
Winner of numerous competitions (Long-Thibaud, Révélation Classique de l'ADAMI, etc.), he soon enjoyed growing success with the public.
Today, he is a regular guest on the most prestigious stages: the Auvers-sur-Oise festival, Les Folles Journées, Heidelberg, Nohant, La Roque d'Anthéron, Les Musicales du Golfe, Pablo Casals, Orangerie de Bagatelle, Cité de la Musique, Victoria Hall, Salle Cortot, Théâtre du Ranelagh, Salle Gaveau, La Monnaie in Brussels, etc.
He has appeared as soloist with the Orchestre National de France, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre de Bretagne, the European Philharmonic Orchestra, etc.
He has performed as a chamber musician with the Parisii Quartet, Laurent Korcia, Romain Leleu, etc.
His albums devoted to Liszt and Schubert have met with great success (‘Choc de Classica’, ‘5 Diapasons’, ‘Pianiste Maestro’, etc.).
Tristan Pfaff is artistic director of the Printemps musical de La Roche-sur-Yon.
On the programme
Saint-Saëns : Paraphrase sur la mort de Thaïs (after Massenet)
Liszt : Consolation n°3 / Rêve d'amour n°3 / Valse de Faust (after Gounod)
Rossini/Ginzburg: Largo al factorum
Tenenbaum: Mary Poppins Fantasy