A Word from the President 2027
The first edition of the competition confirmed this ambition beyond our expectations. We discovered remarkable artistic personalities, experienced moments of sincere emotion, and brought together young musicians from many countries in Beaune. This human and artistic adventure strengthened our determination to develop this project while remaining true to its founding values: excellence, transmission, and openness.
Because a competition should not be only a place of selection. It must be a springboard.
It is in this spirit that we continue to develop new opportunities for candidates. We are particularly pleased to welcome Château de Commarin among our partners. Its artistic director, pianist Ingmar Lazar, will participate in the jury for the first round before meeting the finalists at the Gala. On that occasion, he will choose the winner who will be offered a paid concert at Château de Commarin, thus extending the competition experience with a real stage opportunity.
Beyond the prize, this partnership illustrates our desire to help young artists take an extra step toward professional life. A competition takes on full meaning when it becomes the beginning of an artistic journey rather than just a line on a résumé.
This same spirit of openness led us to create a JUNIOR Online section. Each young pianist can now choose the format that suits them best: either to experience the full competition in Beaune or to participate remotely while receiving in-depth evaluation and a final ranking. We thus want to make the competition accessible to more international talents, without ever giving up the musical rigour that defines it.
But behind every young artist who amazes us, there is often a defining encounter. A teacher, a mentor, a personality who has been able to transmit much more than technique. Without Leopold Mozart, there would have been no Mozart. It has always been important to me to highlight these essential guides. That is why we continue to award recognition diplomas to the teachers whose students stand out. Because excellence often arises from a relationship of trust and transmission.
This competition is not only about rewarding virtuosity. It is aimed at those who dare to show intensity, sincerity, and artistic commitment. We believe a competition should be a springboard to the future, but also a powerful human and musical experience.
The jury I have assembled shares this same vision. Made up of renowned artists and educators from different backgrounds, it ensures that every candidate receives an evaluation that is rigorous, informed, and deeply respectful of each artistic personality.
Finally, the competition draws its strength from its Burgundy roots. In Beaune, we wanted to create an event where music interacts with visual arts through immersive scenography and a collective exhibition led by a group of art therapists. This meeting of disciplines gives the competition a unique identity: a place where artistic excellence combines with humanity, sharing, and openness.
I wish each candidate to experience this adventure as an important step in their journey. And I hope that the Burgundy International Piano Competition will continue, year after year, to reveal the artists of tomorrow and offer them the first stages of a promising future.
Good luck to all!
Yolande Kouznetsov
Pianist – President and Artistic Director
Burgundy International Piano Competition
