Glocal Piano Project 2024
648 candidates | 120 pianists from around the globe | 12 cities across 3 continents | 34 finalists
12 cities, 3 continents, 120 pianists: in 2024, 75 years after its first edition, the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition returned with the third edition of the Glocal Piano Project, a new format for preliminary rounds that turned Steinway showrooms into temporary concert halls across the globe.
In the third edition of the Glocal Piano Project 2024, 120 pianists selected between 648 applicants – a record number in the competition’s history – performed between 20 and 30 November 2024 in twelve cities across three continents: Hamburg, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo and Vienna.
Thanks to the support of Steinway & Sons, the young artists were all given the opportunity to perform under the same conditions, on a D-274 Grand Piano. The performances were recorded using identical technical specifications across all venues, with the same microphone and camera set-up, and the footage, edited by a specialist studio without any cuts to the audio track, was made available on the competition website within forty-eight hours.
‘The Glocal Piano Project is a perfect fit for Steinway’s commitment to music, innovation and artistic endeavour. Since its foundation, Steinway has always had a special focus on the next generation of musicians.”
Ann-Paulin Steigerwald, Steinway & Sons
The competitors, all under 30, were judged by a jury of seven internationally renowned concert pianists: Giuseppe Albanese, Jan Bartoš, Anna Gourari (Jury Chair), Nicolas Namoradze, Alberto Nosè, Herbert Schuch and Zee Zee.
The audience at home also had a say, with the opportunity to cast their votes online via the Busoni-Mahler Foundation’s website.
Thirty-four candidates, including four chosen by the home audience, were admitted to the final stages of the competition, which took place in Bolzano from 27 August to 7 September 2025.
Would you like to know more about the Glocal Piano Festival 2026?
The next Glocal Piano Festival will be held in October and November 2026 in 10 iconic concert venues across the world. Audience members will be able to vote for their favourite contestant among the performers. Find out more about the dates, locations and all the details!
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