The Villafranca International Piano Competition (VIPC) was founded in 2017 by pianist and teacher Chiara Soave and violinist and teacher Antonio Granata, with the aim of promoting piano artistry and musical culture through an event of high artistic and educational value.

The first edition, held in 2018 under the name Città di Villafranca Music Competition, took place in the beautiful Sala Alida Ferrarini in Villafranca di Verona, welcoming from the outset dozens of Italian and international pianists. Its enthusiastic reception and artistic quality quickly established the competition as a significant event within Italy’s musical landscape.

In 2023, the competition adopted its current name, Villafranca International Piano Competition, marking its growing international reach. The following year, Alessandro Pontarollo, pianist and philosopher, joined the artistic direction, enriching the project’s vision alongside the founders.

Today, the VIPC welcomes pianists of all nationalities, from young talents to established professionals, and features two main sections:

• Categories, dedicated to students divided by age group, with repertoire tailored to enhance their artistic and technical development.

• Piano Performance, open to professional pianists, consisting of three stages (preliminary, semifinal, and final) and judged by an international panel of distinguished artists and professors.

Over the years, the VIPC has hosted more than 80 competitors per edition from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, confirming its reputation as one of the most dynamic and inspiring Piano Competitions in Italy.

All performances take place in the elegant Sala Alida Ferrarini, renowned for its excellent acoustics, and are also broadcast via live streaming, offering worldwide visibility to participants.

The Villafranca International Piano Competition is more than a contest — it is a place of encounter, learning, and cultural exchange, where music becomes a means of growth, passion, and shared beauty.