Festival to Transform Washington D.C. into ’ÄúPiano Capital of the World’Äù

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Festival to Transform Washington D.C. into ’ÄúPiano Capital of the World’Äù

2009 Washington International Piano Festival to Feature World-Renowned Lecturers and Artists

Washington, D.C. ’Äì The nation’Äôs capital will become the ’ÄúPiano Capital of the World’Äù next month as internationally renowned artists and lecturers will be joined by 44 participants from the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and Germany at the 2009 Washington International Piano Festival. The festival, made possible by a partnership with the Catholic University of America, begins the week of August 9^th and is an opportunity for young aspiring concert pianists, teachers, amateurs, and piano lovers at-large to participate in an inspiring and informative one-week program.

’ÄúWe are incredibly excited about the Washington International Piano Festival and hope that through beautiful music from some of the world’Äôs most elite artists, participants and observers alike will develop a greater appreciation for the highest standard of classical music,’Äù said Nikita Fitenko, Internationally acclaimed pianist and Co-Director of the festival.

Festival participants will have an opportunity to work with prominent instructors in daily one-on-one coaching sessions as well as educational workshops and master classes. The program also includes seminars presented by outstanding guest lecturers, covering such topics as style, technique, methods and the art of teaching, as well as business aspects of teaching among others. Participants will also have an amazing opportunity to perform in concert at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, which will be webcast live at www.kennedy-center.org.

Each day of the festival will conclude with piano concerts featuring renowned artists such as Milen Petroff and Ivo Kaltchev performing at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage and Joseph Banowetz, Anderson & Roe and Alessio Bax at the Ward Recital Hall on Campus of the Catholic University of America.

The concerts are open to the community at a cost of $20. Tickets may be purchased at the door or may be reserved by emailing the Washington International Piano Festival at washingtonpianofest@gmail.com. In addition, the 2009 Festival participants will present three concerts that are free and open to the public. To learn more visit www.WashingtonPianoFest.com.

About WIPF

WIPF is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the performance and teaching of classical music at the highest standard. The Festival is sponsored by Jordan Kitt's Music and Yamaha.