Musicians, scholars and instrument makers from around the world will gather at Cornell University this summer for Forte | Piano 2025: Crafting Soundscapes, a six-day conference and festival exploring the many dimensions of historical keyboard practice from performance and scholarship to instrument making and listening.
The event will take place August 5-10 at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, hosted by the Cornell Center for Historical Keyboards (CCHK) and the Westfield Center for Historical Keyboard Studies.
Attendees can expect a dynamic mix of public concerts, lecture-recitals, academic papers, roundtables, and informal gatherings, all centered on the evolving field of historical pianos and the vibrant community that surrounds them, say the organizers.
“This week is about connection — with ideas, with instruments, and with each other,” said program committee member Patricia García Gil, postdoctoral associate at CCHK.
The conference will highlight CCHK’s exceptional collection of historical pianos, offering audiences a rare chance to hear and explore these instruments in depth.
“The CCHK has an incredible collection of historical pianos, both originals and replicas. Each piano can change how we make and hear music,” said CCHK director Roger Moseley, associate professor of music in the College of Arts & Sciences. “We are excited to showcase these instruments and to make audible the stories that scholars and performers can draw from them."
Andrew Willis, visiting artistic consultant at CCHK, said that “historical keyboard instruments are known to generate passionate delight among those who are familiar with them. This extraordinary gathering promises to release a wave of creative energy that will resonate for years to come.”
The festival’s evening concerts are free and open to the public, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Kiplinger Theater four nights of the festival, and will feature internationally recognized performers including pianists Lambert Orkis and Yi-heng Yang.
Daytime events and special programs require registration, with day passes and sliding-scale pricing available to keep participation flexible and accessible.
Program highlights include:
• An 18th-century-style-salon evening with conversation, music and games
• A playful pantomime inspired by Mozart’s appearance as Harlequin
• Performances exploring themes of memory, dedication and transformation
Special conference sessions will focus on organology, instrument building and pedagogy, with opportunities for attendees to connect across disciplines and generations.
The event brings together performers, scholars, makers, students and curious minds, all of whom will contribute to a rich dialogue about the future of historical keyboard practice, said García Gil. “It’s a time to reflect on where we’ve been, listen closely to what’s happening now, and imagine what’s next.”
Find the full schedule online, as well as registration. For more information, contact Ayree Coletti at amc584@cornell.edu.
