International Chamber Classics Festival Day 3 Inspires a New Generation of Artists in Brussels
Helmed by President Konstantin Ishkhanov and Artistic Director, David Abrahamyan, The International Chamber Classics Festival (ICCF) is a groundbreaking musical affair held in the picturesque capital of Brussels, Belgium, from the 9th to the 13th of May, 2025. With a primary aim of revitalising the music scene and showcasing the beauty of chamber music, the spirited event features a lineup of renowned virtuoso artists offering masterful tuition to young musicians through an array of carefully curated masterclasses. Additionally, they will be seen presenting a series of enchanting live evening concertos highlighting the richness of chamber music, bringing musicians and entire communities together.
Organised by CMDI Events alongside the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, ICCF's third day commenced on Friday, May 9, 2025, providing an unparalleled platform for up-and-coming talent to learn from the best in the classical music repertoire while enjoying world-class evening concerts.
Held in the radiant halls of the Music Chapel from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, the day kicked off with an intensive, four-hour morning masterclass by Dora Schwarzberg (Austria), a virtuoso violinist and pedagogue who won the 1st prize in the Carl Flesch Competition in London, among many others. This illuminating session allowed students to gain valuable insights and hands-on experience from the maestro, helping them enhance their musical expression and confidence. Students such as Rino Yoshimoto, Julia Smirnova, Hawijich Elders and Sofia Marchak practised an array of stylistically diverse works ranging from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Adagio and Rondo, Johannes Brahms - Violin Concerto in D major and Sergei Prokofiev's Violin Sonata No. 1 to Eugène Ysaÿe's Sonata for solo violin in E minor, Op. 27 No. 4 under the helpful eye of Schwarzberg.
In the evening, the spotlight turned to Waterloo’s Musica Mundi School for the first official concert of the festival that crowned the day's experience. The highly-anticipated musical event showcased the talents of luminaries such as violist, co-founder and artistic director of Dakapp, David Abrahamyan (Spain); celebrated cellist regarded as one of the most sought-after musicians in his field, Claudio Bohorquez (Germany); first prize winner at the Montreal International Competition and Public Prize winner at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, Yossif Ivanov (Bulgaria); winner of more than 50 national and international competitions, including “M. Clementi” in Florence and “Agorà 80″ in Rome, Giuliano Mazzoccante (Italy); internationally-acclaimed pianist renowned for his versatility and emotive artistry, Enrico Pace (Italy); chamber musician and winner of the Prokofiev Piano Competition, Sofia Raichenko (Belgium); and one of the most outstanding violists of her generation who has appeared in leading music centres around the world, Diemut Poppen (Germany). Together, these artists presented breathtaking chamber music compositions, charged with emotions and expressive power. The four works included Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's dramatic Piano Quartet in G minor, Johannes Brahms' romantic and lyrical Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 114, Gustav Mahler's Piano Quartet in A minor, filled with seriousness and emotion, and one of Dmitri Shostakovich's most popular chamber works, Piano Quintet in G minor.
''I feel really lucky that I was able to work with amazing, renowned artists that I have always looked up to since I was a little kid,'' a participant remarked. ''ICCF has truly inspired me to become a more detailed artist. I've learned to not only focus on the overall structure but also to pay attention to the smaller details, which ultimately improves the bigger picture. So from this learning experience, I think for my future, I will take away all the teachers' generous attitude towards their students. Their explanations were super clear and very inspiring. I think I'll try to remember this experience so I can one day also become a mentor like them.''
With only two more days remaining, students continued to fine-tune their work and make the most of the opportunities ICCF has to offer, looking forward to another exciting day of musical enrichment tomorrow.
For more information and the latest updates on The International Chamber Classics Festival, visit our official website to learn more.
