World Pianist Day
| World Pianist Day | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observed by | worldwide |
| Type | Cultural, professional, informal, international |
| Date | November 8 |
| Next time | 8 November 2026 |
| Frequency | annual |
| First time | 2014 |
| Started by | Ivan Manko-Vertogradoff |
World Pianist Day is a special holiday for both seasoned and amateur piano and keyboard instruments players of all ages and nations. It’s celebrated annually on November 8th.
Description
On this day concerts and meetings with musicians are held all over the world. Pianists congratulate their mentors (and vice versa), friends and relatives of musicians send their congratulations too. “Free piano” events, where all interested can demonstrate their piano skills and artistic abilities, are organized in public places. Numerous music stores offer discounts on their goods.
The founder
The tradition to celebrate November 8th as the special day for piano and keyboard players was founded in 2014 by Ivan Manko-Vertogradoff — cultural activist, piano aficionado and the owner of a music store chain. “I was always dreaming of my friends and clients having their own holiday — simply because they’re worth it”, commented the founder.
The question “Why namely November 8th?” Ivan Manko-Vertogradoff replied: “First of all, on this day Alexander Scriabin, one of my most favorite composers and performers, was born. Then, it's a deep and cold autumn time, when people do need comfort and warmth the most — and piano music is able to provide these warm feelings. Last but not least: already after the holiday date was established, we’ve found, with a nice bit of astonishment, that Nov. 8th, or 8 x 11 (or vice versa) is exactly the number of grand piano keys! It is 88 keys to a pianist's soul", concluded the founder.
History
In 2014 World Pianist Day started as just the discretion activity. Yet in merely a year it was recognized as a dedicated holiday. In 2015 pianists Alexander Polyakov, Yulia Arkhangelskaya and Mikhail Orgish took the stage of Minsk State Philharmonics;[1], as did Irina and Elizaveta Morozovs’ duo on piano/cymbalo. Tickets to the event were sold out in six days.
From 2016 World Pianist Day is celebrated internationally. Mr. Polyakov, at that time an instructor at Nanchang Hangkong University in China, continued the festivities there. On Nov. 8, 2016 Nikolai Panok, the Minsk pianist and composer, set the national record for playing the piano in public for 5 hours continuously. The next year the same performer beat his own record, adding one more hour of continuous playing.
On November 8th, 2018, marking yet another anniversary of World Pianist Day, piano was played at one of the most exotic and hard-to-reach places: the “Apothecary garden”, the subtropical part of the Moscow State University Botanical garden — which was at that time closed to the general public for more than 15 years. The venue welcomed young pianist Ilya Polyakov (not related to the mentioned Alexander Polyakov), who played the set of his own pieces named “Colors”[2].
Present time
In 2024 World Pianist Day marked its 10th anniversary. By this time:
- the holiday acquired its own logo;
- celebrations are happening throughout the world: from Argentina[3] to Canada[4], across the United States[5][6], in various countries of Europe[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14], Middle East[15][16][17] and Asia[18][19]
- London Symphony Orchestra[20] and Boston Philharmonics[21] dedicated special performances to the holiday;
- In the U.S. the famous TV presenter Ellen DeGeneres[22] and the legendary “Piano Man” himself – Billy Joel – joined the celebrations;
- on average, more than 100 venues in more than 30 countries welcome World Pianist Day festivities annually. Both the number and the geography of events keep expanding, as World Pianist Day becomes truly the global holiday.
See also
Notes
- ↑ "Pianist Day at Minsk State Philharmonics". Minsk State Philharmonics (in русский). 2015-11-08.
- ↑ "Pianist Day, first time ever at the "Apothecary garden"". weekendo.ru (in русский). 2018-11-08.
- ↑ "World Pianist Day at the National University of Tucuman, Argentina". instagram.com (in español). 2024-10-31.
- ↑ "Tribute to Oscar Peterson on the World Pianist Day at the University of Missisauga, Ontario, Canada". Twitter (X). 2022-11-08. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Celebrating World Pianist Day by playing Debussy's "Clair de lune" in six hands at Lincoln Center, New York, USA". Facebook. 2023-11-08.
- ↑ "How to Celebrate World Pianist Day". "Queen City life", newscast of WBTV station, Charlotte, NC. 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ ""Fuoco" trio celebrates the Pianist Day in Vienna, Austria" (in Deutsch). 2019-11-04.
- ↑ Lazar, Ingmar (2024-11-07). "World Pianist Day-themed piano recital at Steinway Hall, London, England". instagram.com.
- ↑ Purdue, Maya (2024-11-08). "Playing works of Scarlatti, Schumann and South American composers on World Pianist Day in Bavaria, Germany". instagram.com (in Deutsch).
- ↑ Piazza, Yoann (2024-11-08). "Series of World Pianist Day-themed piano performances across France". instagram.com (in français).
- ↑ Fasiello, Davide (2024-11-08). "Playing the Tiny Desk Concert in an honor of World Pianist Day: live stream from Oria, Italy". instagram.com.
- ↑ Dokic, Nikola (2024-11-08). "Live stream from "Klavirski kutak" ("The piano corner") venue, Belgrade, Serbia". instagram.com (in српски / srpski).
- ↑ "Всесвітній день піаніста (World Pianist Day)". DayToday.ua (А що сьогоднi?) (in українська).
- ↑ Roberts, Lucy (2022-11-08). "Celebrating our musicians this World Pianist Day". UK Royal Ballet School.
- ↑ "Competition for the Pianist Association Award of Merit". Jerusalem Pianist Association. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ "A dream of playing music". Pasdaran Book City (in فارسی). 7 May 2025.
- ↑ Can, Zafer (2019-12-06). "Dünya Piyanistler Günü (World Pianist Day)". MÜZİK GÜNCESİ (MUSIC DIARY) (in Türkçe).
- ↑ Cho, Grace (2023-11-08). "Celebrating World Pianist Day by playing Scriabin's Nocturn for left hand at the British Ambassador's residence in Seoul, South Korea". Facebook.
- ↑ "Happy World Pianist Day!". Manila Bulletin, the Phillipines. 2023-11-08. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "London Symphony Orchestra celebrates World Pianist Day". Twitter (X). 2023-11-08.
- ↑ "Special event at Boston Philarmonics, USA". Twitter (X). 2023-11-08.
- ↑ "Happy World Pianist Day!". Twitter (X). 2021-11-09.
Other sources
"World Pianist Day official site". 2019-10-29. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
"Pianist Day: suggestions of celebrations". Retrieved 2024-03-09.
"World Pianist Day". Romeo Music. 2023-11-11. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
“World Pianist Day: Celebrating 10 years…”. Pianist Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
"World Pianist Day November 8 - unofficial Facebook page ". 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
"Today is World Pianist Day!". 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
"Discover the Global Impact of Piano Music". Journee-Mondiale. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
"World Pianist Day 2024: Celebrating the Power and Beauty of Piano Music". Retrieved 2025-06-09.
"100 ways to celebrate World Pianist Day". Retrieved 2025-06-09.
"Tickling The Ivories". Retrieved 2025-06-09.
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