Ocean Music International
Piano Duet & Duo Festival

Featuring internationally renowned piano duos, this festival celebrates International Piano Day with the art of twenty fingers! Featuring four concerts, ten masterclasses, workshops and panel discussions, young pianists and piano lovers alike will have an immersive experience delving into the fascinating culture and rich repertoire of piano four-hands and two pianos.

Distinguished artists include:
Jerome Lowenthal & Ursula Oppens & Carmel Lowenthal
Piano Duo Scholtes & Janssens
The Long Duo
Albert Cano Smit & Yang Liu
and more!

Saturday, March 28 & Sunday, March 29, 2026

The Conservatory of Music of Brooklyn College, The City University of New York

The Leonard & Claire Tow Center
2920 Campus Road, Brooklyn, NY 11210

Call for young pianists and piano duets/duos!
Want to develop and enhance your listening and collaborative skills? Need to elevate your artistry and musicianship as a pianist and piano duo? Apply now! Selected young pianists and piano duos will have the opportunity to work intensively with distinguished artists on the piano duet repertoire, as well as perform on the stages of the esteemed Leonard & Claire Tow Center!

Application deadline: February 10, 2026
Application material: video recordings of at least two pieces in contrasting styles, solo or duet
Application fee:

• For soloist: $60

• For pre-formed duo: $80 per group

Participation fee: due by February 15, 2026

• For soloist: $280

• For pre-formed duo: $450 per group

Each duo will participate in:

• Two Masterclasses:

  • one 45-minute masterclass with the Long Duo or Cano Smit / Liu

  • one 45-minute masterclass with Lowenthal / Oppens / Lowenthal

• Performance at the Final Ceremony Concert (with professional recording provided)

• One workshop and one panel discussion

• Admission to three distinguished artist concerts

*For all participants:
You are strongly encouraged to participate in all events on both days. You have to be available on Sunday in order to participate in the Final Ceremony Concert.

*For solo applicants:
You will receive one 20-minute Zoom session with a member of the Ocean Music artist team one to two weeks before the festival.

After your application is accepted:

• You will be paired with another solo participant

• You will be assigned a piece to work on

• You need to fully learn the piece before the Zoom session (scheduled one to two weeks before the festival).

  • Fully learn the piece means that you need to be able to perform at tempo with the assigned metronome marking and perform fluently from the beginning to the end

• If you are unable to perform the piece up to standard during the Zoom session, you may be disqualified from participating in the festival, and your participation fee is not refundable.

Full Festival Schedule

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Check-in for festival participants

Opening Distinguished Artist Concert: The Long Duo and Cano Smit & Liu in Buchwald Theater

10:30 AM

11:00 AM

1:30 PM

3:30 PM

7:30 PM

Workshop / Panel discussion, in Topfer Recital Hall

Masterclasses and rehearsals

Distinguished Artist Concert: Scholtes & Janssens, in Buchwald Theater

Sunday, March 29, 2026 - "International Piano Day"

9:30 AM

Masterclasses and rehearsals

1:00 PM

Masterclasses with Lowenthal & Oppens & Lowenthal

4:30 PM

Distinguished Artist Concert: Lowenthal & Oppens & Lowenthal, in Buchwald Theater

7:30 PM

Final Ceremony Concert, in Buchwald Theater

If you have any questions, please contact info@oceanmusicfoundation.org.