A welcome letter from Dr. Edvinas Minkstimas

Dear competitors, distinguished jury, music lovers and friends,

Welcome to the Ludwig van Beethoven 2020 national piano competition, presented by The European Academy of Arts in honor of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven, one of the greatest composers of all time!

Young talented pianists from all over the country meet to embark on a never-ending quest for beauty, immortalized by Beethoven’s music. A musical titan, whose creative path bridged the Classical and Romantic traditions, Beethoven left a treasure trove of piano, chamber and orchestral music for mankind. Always daring, he broke the tradition and molded a new one each time his pen touched the score.

It was Beethoven’s dream to unite people through music, a dream shared by us at The European Academy of Arts. We are committed to nurturing young talent, future generations of artists, musicians and music lovers. The Beethoven competition is a natural extension of our vision and mission at the Academy.

Amazingly talented young performers have inspired me and my colleagues with their submitted recordings. Thus I eagerly await the commencement of this wonderful celebration of music and wish best of luck to all contestants. My special gratitude goes to Natalia Nelson, a CoFounder of the Academy and the creator of this magnificent event.

“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy”, the Master once said. Come and embark with us on a magnificent musical journey.

-Dr. Edvinas Minkstimas, Co-Founder and Director, The European Academy of Arts