The second edition of the International Chamber Classics Festival (ICCF) has concluded in Belgium after four days filled with performances, masterclasses, and collaboration between established artists and emerging musicians. Under the leadership of Chairman Konstantin Ishkhanov and Artistic Director David Abrahamyan, the festival took place from April 28 through May 1, 2026, and built upon the foundation of the first edition in every respect.

The festival, organized by CMDI Group in collaboration with the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, took place at two venues: the chapel itself and the Musical Instrument Museum. The program combined public concerts with a series of masterclasses, where a group of internationally active artists worked together with a young generation of talented students.

Among the participating artists were indeed renowned names such as pianists Enrico Pace (Italy) and Giuliano Mazzoccante (Italy), cellist Claudio Bohórquez (Germany), violist Yossif Ivanov (Bulgaria), and violists Matthew McDowell (USA) and Mihai Cocea (Netherlands), each bringing years of experience in chamber music.

Konstantin Ishkhanov, President of the ICCF

Throughout the festival, these masters led various educational sessions and performed in concerts with selected participants. The first concert took place on the opening day of the ICCF at the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels. There, teachers performed together with students a program featuring, among others, Robert Schumann's Piano Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 47, and César Franck's Piano Quintet in F minor. Subsequently, more concerts took place in the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel with repertoire by Schumann and Johannes Brahms, including Fantasy Pieces, Op. 173, the Cello Sonata No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99, and the Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114, performed in an arrangement for viola, cello, and piano.

Reflecting on the conclusion of the event, Konstantin Ishkhanov expressed his satisfaction with how this latest edition of ICCF had unfolded and noted that the goal was to create a format that could evolve over time. "After the response to the first edition, it was clear there was a strong foundation to build on," he said, "and I believe that with this year's edition we have already exceeded our expectations. The aim now is to continue developing ICCF in a way that brings together performance and collaboration in a focused setting, so that we can pass on the art of chamber music playing, an essential part of every professional musician's skills, to the next generation of classical stars."

Now that the second edition has concluded, the ICCF has made a strong impression on both participants and audiences. Many involved are already eagerly looking forward to the next edition, as the festival begins to establish itself as a mainstay in the European chamber music landscape.

For the most recent information about the International Chamber Classics Festival, please visit the official website chamberclassic.com.