XXVIII. Internationaler Meisterkurs für Pianisten

With a tradition dating back to 1972, our International Piano Masterclasses are one of the cornerstones of our support for young talent. Every autumn — except in competition years — we welcome around 10–12 highly gifted young pianists to a week-long course in Darmstadt.

Tuition is provided at the highest level — by internationally renowned artists and teachers such as Kevin Kenner, Andrzej Jasinski, Christopher Elton, Boris Bloch, Tamás Ungár, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron, Charles Richard-Hamelin and many more.

Participants from all over the world particularly value the intensive, individual guidance, the family atmosphere and the open exchange among like-minded musicians.

This year Boris Bloch — following 2010 and 2011 — will lead the International Masterclass at the Chopin Society in Darmstadt for the third time, which we are delighted about!

Course Offering

Open to young pianists preparing for music examinations, concerts and piano competitions, with free choice of programme. The number of active participants is limited — passive participation is possible.

The five-day course (lessons in the morning and afternoon) is framed by an opening recital and a closing concert given by the participants. Each participant receives approximately three hours of tuition over the course of the week.

Lessons are open to the public. Visitors are welcome — free admission.

Opening Recital

Recital with Adi Neuhaus

Friday, 21 November 2025, 6.00pm, Literaturhaus Darmstadt

Introduction: Boris Bloch will speak about the legendary pianist and teacher Heinrich Neuhaus. This will be followed by a recital with Adi Neuhaus (piano) — works by Robert Schumann and Fryderyk Chopin.

Tickets: €20 (concessions €15, pupils/students €10) at the door.

Terms of Participation

Applicants, students and graduates of universities, academies and conservatoires, as well as private students, are eligible to participate.

• Course fee: 250 €
• Deposit: €50 (non-refundable in case of withdrawal). The remaining balance is due at the start of the course.
• Registration deadline: 15 October 2025 — early registration recommended.

Payment to the following account of the Chopin Society:
IBAN: DE97 5085 0150 0000 6019 34
BIC/SWIFT: HELADEF1DAS

Accommodation: We endeavour to arrange host families for participants who explicitly wish this (without guarantee).

Tutor

Boris Bloch

Born in Odessa, pianist and conductor Boris Bloch has long been one of the foremost interpreters of classical and romantic piano music. Bloch's detailed knowledge of the piano literature of the last three centuries, his comprehensive understanding of music history and its protagonists, his stupendous pianism and, above all, his strong artistic personality underpin the widely praised depth of expression, richness of colour, astonishing stylistic authenticity and incomparable “singing” quality of his playing. After studying in Moscow under Dimitri Bashkirov, Boris Bloch won several international piano competitions, including first prize at the International “Ferruccio Busoni” Piano Competition in Bolzano in 1978.

In 1977 he met the legendary Vladimir Horowitz, who confirmed the young Bloch's excellent pianistic equipment, which according to Horowitz was the most important thing of all. This encounter was a defining experience for Boris Bloch.

Several of Bloch's recordings have reference status, notably his recordings of Liszt's opera paraphrases, awarded the Grand Prix International du Disque Liszt of the Liszt Society Budapest and the Diapason d'Or Paris, his recording of Mussorgsky's piano works, which also received the Prix Excellence du Disque in Paris, and his live recordings of Mozart's “Coronation Concerto” and Tchaikovsky's Third Piano Concerto in its complete version (the latter two recordings, together with Liszt-Busoni's Rhapsodie Espagnole, have also been released on DVD).

In recognition of his special commitment to Franz Liszt's piano works, Bloch was also honoured with the Golden Badge of Honour of the International Liszt Society Vienna. He has given Liszt recitals at all the major Liszt sites in Europe — including Raiding in Austria, where Liszt was born on 22 October 1811, Bayreuth, where he died in 1886, and Weimar, one of the most important places of Liszt's activity.

His 35 years of teaching at the Folkwang Hochschule met with great approval and recognition. Among other honours, Boris Bloch was awarded the Music Education Prize of the Köhler-Osbar Foundation and the City of Duisburg.