ABOUT FIMA
THE ACADEMY
Since its launch as the first major piano summer academy in Berlin back in 2023, over 40 international young pianists have benefitted from the “Fiestravaganza International Music Academy” (FIMA). Participants have the privilege of showcasing their talents through numerous performances, including the esteemed opportunity to perform a movement of a piano concerto with orchestra. In addition, participants receive masterclasses and workshops conducted by renowned instructors on both modern and vintage instruments. A distinctive highlight of FIMA is the exclusive access to Bechstein’s extensive Vintage Keyboard Instrument collection, providing participants with a unique opportunity to delve into musical history and craftsmanship.
FIMA’s collaboration with the University of the Arts Berlin offers participants a unique opportunity to perform in the majestic halls of Europe’s largest art institution. This partnership exposes young musicians to large audiences, while all concerts feature top-quality Bechstein D282 pianos, sponsored by C. Bechstein Berlin, ensuring a premium performance experience.
WHAT WE OFFER
FIMA continues to evolve and expand its offerings for young musicians. Piano participants will benefit from:
- Individual Masterclasses with all renowned faculty members: Jacques Rouvier, Christian A. Pohl, Lucas Blondeel and Shaun Choo.
- Lessons take place on both modern and historic pianos, thanks to the exclusive access to Bechstein’s extensive Vintage Keyboard Instrument collection, allowing participants to explore musical history and craftsmanship.
- Workshops on Fortepiano and Piano Methodology.
- Chamber music rehearsals alongside string peers and members of two emerging Berlin ensembles: The Viatores Quartet and The Fiestravaganza Ensemble.
- Concert performances in notable venues such as the University of the Arts Berlin.
- Numerous performance opportunities across solo, chamber, and orchestral settings, including a piano concerto movement with the Camerata Fiestravaganza (for enhanced participation only).
CAMERATA FIESTRAVAGANZA
- An orchestra consisting of over 50 carefully selected, exceptional musicians.
- Built on members from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
- Students and alumni from Berlin’s major music universities (Universität der Künste, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, and Barenboim-Said Akademie).
- Led by renowned conductor Evan-Alexis Christ.
2025 PROGRAM
When: 7pm
Where: UdK Berlin Concert Hall
What: Selected returning participants of FIMA perform piano concertos alongside Shaun Choo and the Camerata Fiestravaganza.
Where: Bechstein Concert Hall and Vintage Keyboard Instrument Collection
What: FIMA 2025 faculty will conduct individual lessons and lead workshops.
When: 7pm
Where: TBA
What: FIMA 2025 string participants perform various chamber music works alongside mentors and piano peers.
When: 7pm
Where: UdK Berlin Joseph-Joachim Hall
What: FIMA 2025 participants present various classical works in this recital.
When: 7pm
Where: UdK Berlin Joseph-Joachim Hall
What: Selected FIMA 2025 participants perform piano concertos with the Camerata Fiestravaganza, led by Evan-Alexis Christ.
PIANO MASTERCLASS WITH
Piano Professor at the Mozarteum University Salzburg
Honorary Professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de danse Paris
This was followed by winning international competitions, such as 1st prize of the Viotti Piano Competition in Vercelli and the special prize of the "Fondation de la Vocation". His complete recordings of Maurice Ravel's and Claude Debussy's piano works were awarded the "Grand Prix du Disque".
Jacques Rouvier performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe and Asia. In 1982, he received a title professorship and taught as a visiting professor at the Berlin University of the Arts. In addition to teaching he does jury work at important international competitions, such as Tchaikovsky Competition Moscow.
Among his most prominent alumni are Arcadi Volodos, Helène Grimaud, David Fray, David Kadouch, etc.
PIANO MASTERCLASS WITH
Piano and Piano Methodology Professor at the University of Music and Theater Leipzig
As a performer, he appears both as a soloist and in chamber music. Since 2009, he has been a professor of piano and piano methodology at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig. He serves as director of the International Mendelssohn Academy Leipzig and has been president of the International Piano Academy Murrhardt since 2021. His students frequently win top prizes at international competitions, including the silver medal at the International Piano Competition in Epinal and the gold medal at the International Piano Competition Istanbul.
His publications include Klaviermethodik (2022), a 400-page book developed over 20 years, and he launched the Digital Piano Methodology in 2023, an advanced training program unique worldwide. A sought-after juror and educator, he regularly gives master classes and lectures in leading institutions across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
FORTEPIANO MASTERCLASS WITH
Piano and Fortepiano Professor at the University of the Arts Berlin
He began to make music on an early 19th century fortepiano and after his studies at the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp, he moved to Berlin to study with Professor Klaus Hellwig at the University of the Arts, where he graduated with the “Konzertexamen” degree.
He created a successful piano duo with Nicolas Callot for more than 20 years and collaborates regularly with classical radio stations such as Klara, BBC3, Kulturradio vom RBB etc.
His recordings include Schubert’s Impromptus, chamber music by Huybrechts and piano duets by Schumann. This CD was chosen by the BBC Music Magazine as one of the best recordings of 2020.
Lucas Blondeel regularly organizes house concerts and shares videos about pieces and instruments on his YouTube channel.
PIANO MASTERCLASS WITH
Multiple Award-Winning Classical Pianist, Composer and Teacher
In 2019, he graduated from the Mozarteum University Salzburg with the degree “Master of Arts”. Shaun Choo’s teachers include Lena Ching, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling, Andreas Weber, Jacques Rouvier and Dang Thai Son.
As a sought-after teacher, he has conducted several masterclasses and is a recurring professor at the International Summer Academy at the Mozarteum. He also holds the title of Adjunct Lecturer at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore.
An avid composer, Shaun Choo often performs his own works during recitals and is the first and only external piano candidate in many years to be successfully admitted into the prestigious “Konzertexamen” Postgraduate Program at the Berlin University of the Arts under the tutelage of professor Björn Lehmann.
WORKSHOPS ON
FORTEPIANO
In this workshop, participants will be transported back in time as they explore the rich history of the piano. Led by professor Blondeel, they will be introduced to Clavichords from the Baroque Era, Fortepianos from Mozart’s time and even a Pleyel and other instruments from the early romantic period. The varying mechanisms and developments of the vintage pianos will be both explained and demonstrated.
PIANO METHODOLOGY
Professor Pohl is the author of the 400-page book Piano Methodology, published by Edition Peters in 2022, and the creator of Digital Piano Methodology, an innovative online platform designed to enhance pianists’ practice and preparation.
This workshop offers an introduction to effective daily piano practice, focusing on strategies that truly work. Participants will gain a deeper awareness of their approach to the instrument, exploring how practice not only refines technique but also fosters self-discovery, helping them better understand their own thoughts and emotions through music.
CHAMBER MUSIC
A group masterclass led by members of two rising star ensembles, the Viatores Quartet and the Fiestravaganza Ensemble. They will coach selected string and piano participants, focusing on key elements of ensemble playing, from effective communication to seamless coordination, ensuring a cohesive and dynamic musical collaboration.
CHAMBER MUSIC PERFORMANCE WITH
STRING MENTORS & PEERS
Strings Category
PERFORM A PIANO CONCERTO MOVEMENT WITH THE
CAMERATA FIESTRAVAGANZA
ABOUT CAMERATA FIESTRAVAGANZA
Thanks to a grant in 2022 from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Media and Culture as part of NEUSTART KULTUR, the orchestra’s debut concert took place at the great hall of the UdK Berlin for a full house (under reduced seating capacity due to Covid) of nearly 650 attendees. Camerata Fiestravaganza is the resident orchestra of the Fiestravaganza International Music Academy. Every summer, the orchestra performs a marathon of piano concertos, featuring young soloists from all over the world.
CONCERTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS BERLIN
UDK CONCERT HALL
ABOUT THE UDK CONCERT HALL
Today, the UdK Concert Hall is one of the showplaces of Berlin’s cultural life. With its 1,255 seating capacity, the UdK Berlin's Faculty of Music holds many of their major events here, such as festivals, symphonic concerts, competitions and exams.
UDK JOSEPH-JOACHIM HALL
ABOUT THE JOSEPH-JOACHIM HALL
With its tasteful, modern furnishings, it is located in the prestigious building of the old Joachimstaler Gymnasium, right next to Spichernstraße subway station. The UdK Berlin uses this hall for concerts, lecture evenings, symposia, competitions, master classes and examinations.
The hall offers space for 392 guests and is also easily accessible for wheelchair users. There are 352 seats in rows and a further 40 in alcoves.
MASTERCLASSES VENUES
CARL BECHSTEIN HALL
ABOUT THE CARL BECHSTEIN HALL
The interior is modern, the hall is flooded with light and the acoustics are perfect for small ensembles. Up to 200 guests can be seated in the hall and can enjoy chamber concerts, piano recitals and recitals several times a year.
Collaborations with renowned organizers such as Klassik in Spandau and the Brandenburg Summer Concerts as well as concerts organized by the Carl Bechstein Foundation guarantee an unforgettable concert evening.
VINTAGE KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT COLLECTION
ABOUT THE VINTAGE KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT COLLECTION
Nearly fifty instruments currently make up the collection, the majority of which are fully restored and in playable condition.
AMPLE PRACTICE FACILITIES
BECHSTEIN SPANDAU
ABOUT BECHSTEIN SPANDAU
Twelve sound-isolated practice rooms, equipped with brand-new grand pianos, ensure adequate practice opportunities for all participants. A recreational area and resting room are also located on-site.
LA RAISON DE LA MUSIQUE
ABOUT LA RAISON DE LA MUSIQUE
Eight studios are equipped with high-quality grand pianos, all regularly tuned and maintained. The facility offers a variety of rooms of different sizes to accommodate diverse needs.
DELUXE ACCOMMODATION OFFER
ABOUT KPM HOTEL & RESIDENCES
The KPM Hotel & Residences combines a maximum of comfort and coziness with a clear, individual design signature. Opened in September 2019, it prides itself on its geographical location. Located directly at the northern entrance to the Great Tiergarten, nestled between the building ensemble of the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin and the Great Tiergarten, numerous Berlin hotspots are within walking distance. The S- Bahn “Tiergarten” stops a few meters from the hotel and allows you to immerse yourself quickly and stress-free in Berlin city life.
Their 126 light-flooded rooms are private retreats. Rooms that impress with their clear design, the high quality of the materials and technical details such as smart TV and tablet or the fully equipped kitchenette which is available on request.
BASIC PARTICIPATION
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Masterclass with Jacques Rouvier (Piano)
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Masterclass with Christian A. Pohl (Piano)
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Masterclass with Lucas Blondeel (Fortepiano)
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Masterclass with Shaun Choo (Piano)
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Fortepiano Workshop
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Piano Methodology Workshop
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Chamber Music Coaching (Selected Participants)
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Solo/Chamber Music Concert Performance
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Rehearsal & Recording of a Piano Concerto Movement with Orchestra -
Live Performance of a Piano Concerto Movement with Orchestra
ENHANCED PARTICIPATION
+ Concerto Live Performance & Recording-
Masterclass with Jacques Rouvier (Piano)
-
Masterclass with Christian A. Pohl (Piano)
-
Masterclass with Lucas Blondeel (Fortepiano)
-
Masterclass with Shaun Choo (Piano)
-
Fortepiano Workshop
-
Piano Methodology Workshop
-
Chamber Music Coaching (Selected Participants)
-
Solo/Chamber Music Concert Performance
-
Rehearsal & Recording of a Piano Concerto Movement with Orchestra
-
Live Performance of a Piano Concerto Movement with Orchestra
REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can apply?
Because we believe that the activities offered at FIMA can benefit all classically-trained piano students, participants will be evaluated based on their skill alone, regardless of age. Hence, both budding young talents and more established pianists are welcome to join. Particularly young, talented but inexperienced piano students are even encouraged, as they will benefit the most from the opportunities offered.
Is there a closing date for registrations?
Interested applicants may submit their registration at any time from now until one month before the academy begins. Late applications may be granted and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
When and how do applicants make payment?
- First time applicants may submit their application now without requiring any payment. Upon reviewing the online video submission, they will be notified within a few days of the results of their application. If successful, applicants will then transfer the participation fee via a link provided to the online payment portal.
- Returning participants will pay the full participation fee on the last page of the application form. Their registration is immediately completed without any further steps.
Must participants work on the same pieces as submitted during their application? Must they be played from memory?
No, participants may choose to play a different set of pieces during the lessons and may present the same or different pieces to each faculty member. Just bear in mind that participants should prepare an adequate number of pieces in order for the intense lessons offered to be most effective.
Pieces can be played with the score. However, do note that only pieces which have been memorised will be considered for the solo concert performance.
Must the concerto movement in the video submission be performed from memory? What if it is not ready at the time of application?
We understand that some participants may choose to start a new concerto movement specially for the academy, or choose to play a concerto movement that is currently a work-in-progress. In either case, participants may submit a recording of their preferred concerto played with the score, a recording of a different concerto, or an additional solo work that demonstrates the student’s skill. Participants are still encouraged to submit a polished recording of their chosen concerto at the soonest possible date.
Please note that for the actual concerto performance, participants must play from memory.
How are participants chosen for the solo/chamber music concert?
The faculty members will collectively decide who plays what at the solo concert, based on their impression working on the pieces during the lessons.
How long is each individual lesson?
The current allocated time per lesson is between 45 minutes and 1 hour, subject to the number of participants and faculty member in question. Even though we will try our best to uphold these timings, we seek your understanding and flexibility in the case of a large intake of participants.
Can participants observe fellow participant's lessons?
Definitely! Not only are they allowed to watch other participants, but they are highly encouraged to do so. After all, one can definitely learn much from listening to others!
Are parents/teachers allowed as observers?
Parents and teachers of participants will receive a guest pass at the start of the academy, which allows them full access to the lessons, workshops and concerts free of charge. All other external observers will be subject to a small entry fee.
Will there be ample practice possibilities?
Twelve brand-new practice rooms, many equipped with grand pianos, will be available throughout the academy and are directly located at the masterclass venue. Additionally, participants may also practice in the eight grand piano studios at La Raison de la musique. Rest assured, each participant will be allocated several hours of practice daily. A schedule will be created whereby participants can choose their preferred timeslot(s).
Where will participants stay during the academy?
One important aspect of organising an event is to ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable. This applies not only to the participants, but their parents and teachers who accompany them. Hence, we sought out a partner hotel – KPM Hotel and Residences, a 5-star equivalent boutique hotel situated in one of Berlin’s most modern and cleanest districts with direct access to the main subway line. It is also within walking distance to the University of the Arts Berlin, where the concerts will take place.
Participants can book accommodation directly through us at a special rate, with no pre-payment required. Just select the respective accommodation offer on the application form and we will follow-up with the rest. Alternatively, participants may of course book their own accommodation.
Are meals and transportation included?
Unfortunately not. Given that participants are free to explore the city outside of their individual lesson time and scheduled workshops/rehearsals/concerts, we are unable to accommodate everyone’s preferred dietary requirements or provide exclusive transportation.
However, to further promote the cohesiveness of the class and encourage mingling, we may organise social activities on certain free evenings for participants and their accompanying parents/teachers.