PiaNovara Festival

The piano festival in Novara

The PiaNovara Festival is a series of events that the Guido Cantelli Conservatory of Novara dedicates entirely to the world of the piano. Reaching its fourth edition in 2026, the festival takes place from May to September in the heart of the capital of the Province of Novara, in Piedmont, offering a program that weaves together concerts, masterclasses, seminars, and study sessions open to the public.

Born from the initiative of the Conservatory's Piano Department, the festival has progressively established itself as a point of reference for students, enthusiasts, and young musicians, creating a continuous dialogue between academic activity and live performance. Its stated goal is to make the vast universe surrounding this extraordinary instrument even more popular and accessible.

The 2026 program

The 2026 edition kicks off on May 20 with an inaugural concert by Pietro De Maria, dedicated to the memory of the great performer and teacher Maria Tipo, who passed away the previous year. The calendar continues on May 25 with Giovanni Nesi, accompanied by a seminar on the repertoire for the left hand.

• Recitals and meetings with Simone Pedroni, Lavinia Bertulli, Giorgio Costa, Sota Kubota, and Andrea Turini;
• an organ concert by Jens Korndörfer;
• the sixth edition of the Sergio Fiorentino International Piano Competition;
• masterclasses and in-depth seminars reserved for students and young pianists.

All events are held at the F.lli Olivieri Auditorium of the Conservatory and are free of charge, a choice that has always characterized the festival.

A bridge between education and performance

The strength of the PiaNovara Festival lies in its connection to the life of the Conservatory: alongside concerts by great performers, there is space for masterclasses, seminars, and educational projects where students can engage directly with guest masters. Curated by maestros Alessandro Marangoni and Mario Coppola, the festival offers the public of Novara and Piedmont a long, high-quality season capable of showcasing both the classical repertoire and the most virtuosic and contemporary pages written for the piano.