Piano Campus

Piano Campus: Piano at the Heart of the Cergy-Pontoise Region

Born in 2002 on the initiative of Philippe Houillon, then deputy mayor of Pontoise, and entrusted to the artistic direction of Pascal Escande — founder of the Festival d'Auvers-sur-Oise — Piano Campus has, in over twenty years of existence, transformed the urban community of Cergy-Pontoise into the Parisian capital of piano for several weeks each winter.

Organized by the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Cergy-Pontoise, the festival was initially called Mois du Piano (Month of Piano) before being renamed Piano Campus, referencing the university and student identity of the area. It celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022, marked by the creation of a contemporary work and a performance of Maurice Ravel's Concerto in G major during the final.

A Reference International Competition

The most emblematic component of Piano Campus is its international competition, open to pianists aged 16 to 25 from around the world, selected based on their application. Recognized by the World Federation of International Music Competitions, this competition is a true springboard for young pianists at the beginning of their international careers.

The competition format is rigorous and formative: a semi-final round (qualifiers) featuring 12 candidates in a day of public auditions, followed by a final with orchestra on Sunday, where the three selected finalists perform a contemporary work commissioned for the occasion and a major concerto from the Romantic repertoire. About ten prizes, including three grand prizes, are awarded to the laureates.

Ambitious Set Works

Each edition commissions a contemporary composer for an original work to be performed at the final. The 2026 edition saw semi-finalists perform Francis Poulenc's Novelette No. 3 in A minor, while the final featured a premiere by Lise Borel for piano and orchestra alongside Sergei Rachmaninoff's famous Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43.

A Festival Open to the General Public

Beyond the competition, Piano Campus offers a true public festival over several weeks, from January to mid-February, in the towns of the agglomeration — Achères, Cergy, Pontoise, and Vauréal. Free recitals given by laureates from previous editions, masterclasses open to the public, opening concerts, and outreach activities in schools reach a wide audience, beyond the usual circle of music lovers.

A Partnership with the Festival d'Auvers-sur-Oise

Piano Campus benefits from a close partnership with the Festival d'Auvers-sur-Oise, whose founder Pascal Escande also serves as artistic director. This link between the two festivals creates artistic synergies and ensures a national level of programming quality.