National Competition for Young Pianists "Acqui e Terzo Musica"

A historic competition in the heart of Monferrato

The National Competition for Young Pianists "Acqui e Terzo Musica" is one of the most deeply rooted musical events in the upper Monferrato area. Established in the late 1980s, it reached its 38th edition in 2026, a milestone that testifies to the passion with which the small town of Terzo, in the province of Alessandria, has cultivated an event dedicated to the piano and young performers over time.

The festival takes place in the evocative "Matilde Signa Tavella" Hall inside Casa Benzi, on Via Gallaretto in Terzo, and is part of the broader "Manifestazioni Musicali Terzesi" promoted by the Associazione Nuova Terzo Musica together with the Municipality. The artistic direction is entrusted to Maestro Enrico Pesce, a key figure in the musical life of the Bormida Valley.

Competition sections

The competition is reserved for Italian contestants and foreign residents in Italy, and is structured into several categories designed to accompany young pianists throughout their studies:

• "Young Promises" section — open to students enrolled in music high schools, with free-choice recital programs;
• "Matilde Signa Tavella and Angelo Tavella" young performers section — divided by age group, from young children to teenagers, with free-choice programs;
• "Alessandro Taulino" section — reserved for students of middle schools with a musical curriculum, with categories for each grade level and a section for four-hand piano.

Prizes and awards

The best artistic talent among the contestants in the "A. Tavella" young performers section receives, at the sole discretion of the jury, the "Matilde Signa Tavella and Angelo Tavella" Prize worth 500 euros. The committee may also award the winner a concert prize, included in the "Manifestazioni Musicali Terzesi" program. However, for many young participants, the experience of performing on stage and receiving feedback from a qualified jury represents the true value of the event.

Terzo and the Bormida Valley

Terzo is a small village in the Bormida Valley, just a few kilometers from Acqui Terme, nestled in the hilly landscape of the Alessandria Monferrato. The bond with the nearby spa town of Acqui gives the competition its dual name, "Acqui e Terzo Musica". For two days, the town becomes a reference point for families, teachers, and young pianists arriving from all over Italy, in an intimate and welcoming atmosphere that has accompanied the discovery of new piano voices for nearly forty years.