The winners of the PianoLink Amateurs Competition in concert at the Fazioli Concert Hall
An extraordinary evening dedicated to the pure passion of amateur pianists: the joy of playing for pleasure, of sharing emotions, and of transforming every free moment into creativity and devotion. A passion that enriches, builds connections, and turns music into a shared experience capable of moving both performers and listeners.
Sacile, FAZIOLI Concert Hall – For the first time sponsoring the PianoLink International Amateurs Competition (PIAC), FAZIOLI is proud to host The Amateurs’ Grand Gala, the concert featuring the winners of the 2025 edition. On Friday, 17 April, at 7 p.m., in the renowned FAZIOLI Concert Hall, the audience will experience the dedication of pianists who, despite pursuing different professions, have turned their love for music into a path of personal growth and a constant source of new challenges. Thanks to the collaboration and support of the Arrigoni String Academy, the evening promises to be a rare encounter between the professional and amateur worlds, highlighting the joy of playing purely for pleasure and passion.
An international competition without borders
Created by PianoLink and Cremona Musica, under the artistic direction of Andrea Vizzini and Roberto Prosseda, the PianoLink International Amateurs Competition is «the first international piano competition devoted exclusively to amateur pianists, boasting a jury worthy of the world’s most prestigious piano competitions». Muza Rubackyté, Francesco Libetta, Alessandro Deljavan, Bruno Monsaingeon and Stuart Isacoff—renowned figures on the international piano scene—served as jurors for the 2025 edition, the first supported by FAZIOLI Pianoforti.
A partner of PIAC is Cremona Musica, the world-leading trade fair dedicated to music and musical instruments, which places the competition within a globally recognised context of excellence.
Previous juries have included Jean-Marc Luisada, Cyprien Katsaris, Olga Kern, Bruno Canino, Michele Campanella, Ramin Bahrami, Alexander Romanovsky, Vovka Ashkenazy, Sofya Gulyak and Inna Faliks, alongside leading music critics and key figures on the international music scene.
Since its creation, the competition has welcomed more than 200 amateur pianists from 25 countries across 4 continents, thanks to a structure combining online rounds with live finals, allowing participants to compete “in person or remotely, each in their own time zone, from the far west to the far east of the globe”. The project fosters dialogue between major artists and non-professional pianists—doctors, engineers, lawyers, entrepreneurs—linked by “a single, powerful thread: a shared passion for music and the piano”.
«The winners reach a level that deeply impresses even a top-tier jury: listening to them means encountering genuine musical quality, fuelled by authentic passion and extraordinary determination», says Andrea Vizzini, Artistic Director of the competition.
A tribute to the world of Amateurs
Paolo Fazioli, President of FAZIOLI Pianoforti, speaks with enthusiasm about his company’s first participation in the PianoLink International Amateurs Competition: hosting the winners, he says, is no less moving than welcoming great international artists. «It is a different kind of emotion, perhaps one that is even more conscious», he notes.
According to Fazioli, the initiative aligns closely with the company’s identity because «amateurs are the real lifeblood of the musical ecosystem. They are the ones who study after work, fill concert halls, buy sheet music, records and instruments, sustaining the music world day by day. Without amateurs, there would be no audiences, no music publishing, no recording industry, nor an instrument market: recognising their value means recognising the very foundations on which our entire musical world rests» .
The Winners’ Concert
Taking centre stage on 17 April 2026 will be the five winners of the 2025 PIAC edition, performing a programme that includes both solo repertoire and a concerto with orchestra.
The overall winner, Cheuk Hin Ivan Wong (Hong Kong), will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58 with the Orchestra dell’Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni, conducted by Andrea Vizzini. Playing with the orchestra is the highlight of the evening and the competition’s most coveted prize: the chance to perform with a professional ensemble in a world-class piano venue.
Alongside him, the other winners will appear as soloists in a repertoire ranging from Brahms to Debussy, Liszt, Chopin, Schumann, Scriabin and Kapustin:
Marco Cima, entrepreneur (Italy)
Ken Iisaka, computer engineer (Japan)
Nicola Ormando, manager (Italy)
Robert Finley, retiree (USA)
A programme that reveals to the audience the richness and variety of the world of high-level amateur pianists, capable of combining musical excellence with outstanding professional careers.
The Orchestra of the Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni
The Winners’ Concert of the PianoLink International Amateurs Competition is made possible thanks to the support and participation of the Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni. The Accademia, since 2009, has trained young musicians and hosted internationally renowned teachers, promoting a youth orchestra capable of performing alongside major artists. Its mission – discovering and nurturing talent – is shared by Fazioli and PianoLink, and finds a notable expression in the “Piccolo Violino Magico” International Competition for young violinists up to the age of 13, the only competition in the world to feature a constant orchestral accompaniment.
«It is always a special moment to welcome this orchestra», says Paolo Fazioli, recalling its remarkable versatility, from recordings of classical rarities to crossover projects. The ensemble has appeared several times at the FAZIOLI Concert Hall with highly acclaimed concerts and recordings. «Their participation», he adds, «is not only a musical enrichment but also an opportunity to strengthen a cherished bond».
The applause continues in Milan
The winners’ journey continues on Saturday, 19 April 2026, when the five pianists will give a collective recital at PianoLink STUDIOS in Milan: an intimate, close-up setting designed to foster direct interaction with the audience and share the work accomplished.
The Amateurs’ Grand Gala
A project by:
With the support of
About PianoLink
PianoLink is a Music Association founded in Milan in 2014 with a single mission: to break down the walls that separate many artistic and musical contexts and create innovative synergies. It brings internationally renowned professionals closer to amateurs and enthusiasts, bridging worlds that may seem distant. It fosters dialogue between classical musicians and unconventional jazz players, young talents and seasoned interpreters, promoting mutual enrichment free from prejudice. It creates opportunities for both amateurs and professionals, who meet an audience drawn from the most diverse backgrounds, united by a desire to experience music as personal growth. Founded by pianist Andrea Vizzini with Moreno Paoletti, Marco Leonardi and Irene Ripa, it is a recognised Social Promotion Association (APS) listed in the R.U.N.T.S. Since its inception it has been featured by Rai, Amadeus, Pianist, Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica for its innovative and forward-thinking initiatives.
About Fazioli Pianoforti
Fazioli Pianoforti was founded in 1981 in Sacile, Friuli Venezia Giulia, the result of engineer and pianist Paolo Fazioli’s vision: to build pianos that combine scientific rigour with artistic ambition, without compromise. Its deliberately limited production blends artisanal craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technologies and meticulously selected materials. The range includes seven grand piano models, from 156 to 302 cm, featuring the most advanced solutions for professional instruments: a highly responsive and refined action, perfectly balanced registers, a powerful and expressive sound rich in tonal colour, remarkable projection and long sustain. The timbre, inspired by the Italian bel canto tradition, is distinguished by clarity, singing quality and wide dynamic range. Fazioli can also create fully customised instruments. The headquarters houses the Fazioli Concert Hall, a venue with variable acoustics used for concerts, auditions and recordings.
About Cremona Musica International Exhibitions and Festival
Cremona Musica is the world’s leading exhibition dedicated to high-quality musical instruments, held annually in Cremona. Alongside specialised sections (Mondomusica for fine violinmaking, Piano Experience for pianos, Acoustic Guitar Village for acoustic and classical guitars, Accordion Show, Electric Sound Village), the fair hosts a rich programme of events including concerts, exhibitions, masterclasses, competitions and conferences, featuring world-class artists. The event is organised in collaboration with local institutions – Municipality, Chamber of Commerce, Province and trade associations – along with the Lombardy Region and ICE Agency.
The 2026 edition, scheduled from 2 to 4 October, will host over 400 exhibitors (52% international) and more than 200 events across three days, with hundreds of prominent figures involved in concerts, masterclasses and presentations.
About the Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni
Since 2009, the Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni has trained young musicians and hosted teachers from around the world; it also leads a very active youth orchestra performing alongside artists such as Enrico Bronzi, Enrico Dindo, Natalia Gutman, Fabrizio Meloni, Giovanni Sollima and Alessandro Taverna. Since 2013, it has promoted “San Vito Musica”, a concert season featuring distinguished soloists, ensembles and conductors. Its flagship is the “Piccolo Violino Magico” International Competition for violinists up to 13 years old—the only competition in the world with constant orchestral accompaniment—broadcast live by The Violin Channel.
Its recordings include Fiorillo’s Concertos and Symphonies Concertantes (Amadeus CD of the Month), the world premiere of Graun’s Concertos and, in 2025, Salieri’s Piano Concertos for Brilliant Classics. It is part of Quinta Giusta, a network uniting the most prestigious musical competitions in Friuli Venezia Giulia, and has launched crossover projects with Vinicio Capossela and Ute Lemper.
Info:
PianoLink
Andrea Vizzini – piac@pianolink.it – Tel. 02 47927958
Fazioli Pianoforti
Elena Turrin – elena.turrin@fazioli.com – Tel. 0434 72576 ext. 5
Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni
Clara Giangaspero – pressoffice@ilpiccoloviolinomagico.it – Mob. 338 4543975
Tickets
Online purchase: www.2tickets.it (available from March)
Booking information: concert@fazioli.com