On September 2-4, 2022, for the first time in Poland, the International Congress of the EUROPIANO Union and the 22nd Convention of the International Association of Piano Builders and Technicians (IAPBT) - Piano Congress 2022 were held in Warsaw under the honorary patronage of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Piotr Glinski. The organizers of Piano Congress 2022 were: the Polish Piano Tuners Association headed by President Andrzej Chabracki, EUROPIANO - a union of 18 independent national associations of piano tuners and technicians and the International Association of Piano Builders and Technicians headed by President Gunther Schaible, and the Fryderyk Chopin Institute headed by Director Artur Szklener. The Sfogato Music and Arts Society was a partner of the Piano Congress 2022 Open Day together with Petrof, Yamaha Music Europe and the Pasja music store (involved in partner cooperation in the organization of the entire Piano Congress 2022).

Piano Congress 2022 Open Day (September 2, 2022) began with the workshop "History and construction of the piano with examples of the original models of the mechanism and the Lego piano model", during which Marta Polanska recalled the history of the piano with particular emphasis on the development of the mechanism, discussed the mechanism of a modern piano on the example of the original mechanism model of the Renner company. In the second part, she presented a collector's piano model from Lego. The Lego Ideas piano (21323) has a detachable keyboard with 25 keys, realistic hammers, movable dampers and a pedal, and a motor. The 3,662-piece Lego piano model measures over 1 '' (22.5cm) high, 1 '' (30.5cm) wide and 5 '' (35.5cm) deep. Participants of the workshop assembled several elements of the instrument from Lego bricks.

The topic of the history of the piano was continued during Marta Polanska's lecture " Evolution of the piano repertoire in the context of the development of the instrument." Thanks to the invention of Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655 - 1731) the development of the repertoire for keyboard instruments became possible. The lecture was aimed at inspiring students of music schools and their teachers, as well as all those interested in piano issues, to deepen their knowledge on the development of the piano repertoire in the context of the evolution of the instrument. The lecture showed the interaction and influence of composers and piano builders.

During the Piano Congress 2022 Open Day, pianists could not be missing. Thanks to the performers, the instrument and the literature composed for it have been able to be known and admired by everyone interested in the art of the piano for more than three centuries. Eleven young pianists - laureates of national and international piano competitions - played on a piano lent by the Petrof company. During two Concerts Promoting Young Pianists, conducted by Marek Polanski - vice-president of the Sfogato Music and Arts Society - the following pianists performed: Sebastian Balcerzak (class of mgr Hanna Balcerzak - Fryderyk Chopin Primary and Secondary Music School in Bytom), Joanna Jasnowska (class of dr hab. Anna Stempin-Jasnowska, profesor of the University - Complex of Grazyna Bacewicz State General Secondary Music Schools no. 3 in Warsaw), Szymon Kania (class of mgr Rafal Maciag - Romuald Twardowski State Music School of the 1st degree in Pulawy), Daniel Pawel Kazmierczak (class of dr Marzena Wieczorek - Self-governmental Primary Music School in Tarnowo Podgorne), Stanislaw Makuracki (class of mgr Malgorzata Kluzniak - Celinska - Marian Sawa Secondary Music School in Warsaw), Malgorzata Radek (class of mgr Marcelina Pawlak / prof. dr hab. Beata Bilinska - Complex of Wojciech Kilar State Music Schools in Katowice), Daniel Rozek (class of dr Teresa Ksieska-Falger - Karol Lipinski Primary and Secondary Music School in Lublin), Maja Sikorska (class of Waldemar Krol - Bronislaw Rutkowski Primary and Secondary Music School in Krakow), Seweryn Julian Szarpak (class of dr hab. Agnieszka Schulz-Brzyska - Ignacy Jan Paderewski State Primary and Secondary Music School in Chelm), Julia Willner-Paster (class of dr Hubert Salwarowski - Karol Szymanowski State Secondary Music School in Katowice) and Oliwia Witkowska (class of mgr Magda Gorecka / mgr Andrzej Filipek - Stanislaw Moniuszko State General Secondary Music School in Katowice).

As part of the Piano Congress 2022 Open Day, there were also seminars: "How to care for a piano or grand piano" aimed at users of pianos and grand pianos (including music school teachers) organized by the Polish Piano Tuners Association, led by Andrzej Kruszewski - founder and president of the Polish Piano Tuners Association in 2007-2018, as well as a seminar on tuning a Yamaha CFX koncert grand piano (event partner), led by Michal Bednarski.
An accompanying event was the training "Intonation of historical pianos", which was conducted at the seat of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute - the organizer of the training - by Paul McNulty - a world-renowned piano manufacturer, known for the highest quality of workmanship.
As part of Piano Congress 2022, 40 events took place: lectures, seminars, concerts, as well as the screening of the film "Soul enchanted in the piano" directed by Elwira Fibiger - daughter of the last owner of the Arnold Fibiger Factory in Kalisz Gustaw Arnold III. The events were divided into 6 topics. Throughout the duration of the Piano Congress 2022, the participants could visit the largest exhibition of pianos and upright pianos in Poland (at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Warsaw) by such manufacturers as: Petrof, C. Bechstein, Steingraeber, Kawai, Yamaha, Bösendorfer, August Förster, Seiler, Pramberger, Samick, and the stands of renovators: WR-Piano, Kowalczyk Piano, Piano Renovation Professional S.C., Piano Studio, Piano Parts International, Paul McNulty, Sławomir Zubrzycki, suppliers: Knud Danielsen ApS, Hellerbass, Gazelle, Australia Piano Supply, Jahn Pianoteile, Taffijn Piano Supply BV, Piano Life Saver, MiQralon AB / Ltd, Renner and sellers: Pianoforte Concert Management, FX - Music Group, Salon Muzyczny Pasja, Klaviano.com.
We hope that the knowledge gained during the Piano Congress 2022 taking place in the city and homeland of Fryderyk Chopin (1810 - 1849) - the greatest Polish pianist and composer, who opened a new era for the piano, will inspire everyone interested in issues related to the construction, reconstruction, renovation and tuning of piano instruments and will open a new chapter in the discussion on the future of the piano arts and piano craftsmanship.

(Organizers' information)

Information: www.pianocongress.org