Young Czech Pianists Performed in New York Thanks to the Future Tones Project
Published: 4. march 2026
Five young Czech pianists performed for New York audiences as part of the Future Tones project. This joint initiative of the Karel Komárek Family Foundation and the Czech Centers supports the next generation of Czech piano talent. It also helps them gain international experience through collaboration with American music institutions, in line with the mission of the Foundation programme Support for Musical Education.
Future Tones took place from 20 to 23 February 2026. It combined concert performances with professional masterclasses and created opportunities for young Czech musicians to meet American students and teachers. The programme was prepared by Czech Center New York in cooperation with the prestigious Mannes School of Music, which hosted the professional part of the project.
Young talents at Steinway Hall
The first concert, Mannes Sounds: Across the Keys: Transatlantic Exchange, took place on Friday 20 February 2026 at the legendary Steinway Hall in New York. Alongside their American peers, five young Czech pianists performed: Valentýna Ibriqi, Magdaléna Kovářová, Adam Znamirovský, Nora Lubbadová, and Vivi Nguyen.
In a symbolic way, they followed a long tradition linking Czech music with the Steinway name, dating back to the period when Antonín Dvořák, during his time in the city, played a piano lent to him by the company’s founder, Henry Steinway.
Masterclasses at Mannes School of Music
The project continued on Sunday 22 February 2026 at Mannes School of Music, where full day masterclasses were held. They were led by Pavlína Dokovská, a laureate of the Claude Debussy International Piano Competition in France and the Senigallia competition in Italy, and a long time head of the piano department at Mannes School of Music, and Vladimir Valjarević, an internationally recognised pianist and teacher at Mannes School of Music and Rutgers University. Under expert guidance, the young pianists developed both their technique and interpretation and became familiar with teaching in an international environment.
„Future Tones is not just a concert project. It is an investment in the future of Czech music and in the confidence of young artists who have the courage to succeed on the international stage. The opportunity to perform in New York and work with teachers from Mannes School of Music is an experience that shapes their further artistic development.“
Director of Czech Center New York.
„I find it exceptional that the children could travel together as a group. They had the chance to inspire one another, motivate each other, share what they learned, and develop it further together. Just as important was the space to build and deepen friendships.“
Valentýna Ibriqi’s mother
The culmination of the trip
The New York visit of the young artists culminated in the final concert, Future Tones in Concert, on Monday 23 February 2026 at Bohemian National Hall in New York. The programme featured works by Czech composers Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Leoš Janáček, and Vítězslav Novák, as well as pieces from the international repertoire, including works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Fryderyk Chopin, Robert Schumann, Jean Sibelius, and Igor Stravinsky.
The young pianists received a standing ovation in a sold out hall, even though attendance was affected by an unusually severe snowstorm. Once again, it was clear that the next generation of Czech musicians can reach audiences across continents.
First quotation photo: afo.cz
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