Welcome to WIPAC

International Piano Arts Council (WIPAC) was established in 2001 to promote international friendship and mutual understanding among nations, to provide an educational forum for all levels of professional and non-professional pianists, to create a renaissance of interest in the art of piano artistry, and to provide venues worldwide where classical music can flourish in many communities.

To further its goals, WIPAC has hosted an annual Festival of Music and an International Piano Competition for piano artists above the age of 31 in Washington, DC, during the months of July/August for the past 10 years, consecutively. It is the only competition of its kind that has remained continuous in the USA, annually! Our sister competition in Paris is in its 24th year in 2013! WIPAC also hosts an annual “Winners Grand Prix Piano Concert” during the month of April, featuring winners of international piano competitions worldwide, specifically those that are open to non-professional piano artists; and various piano concerts featuring both professional and non-professional piano artists in museums and embassies throughout Washington, DC area.

For sample recordings by WIPAC PIANISTS, visit our HIGHLIGHTS PAGE (see tabs above).

Concours International des Grands Amateurs de Piano" in Paris, France, and "Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs" in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, have been sources of inspiration for the organization. Since those competitions were begun, others have followed in cities such as Boston, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Berlin, Vienna, and Warsaw. The concept continues to grow accompanied by broader recognition of its artistic merits worldwide, year after year!

WIPAC is registered as a non-profit entity under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and derives its support from the generosity of those who believe that music and the performing arts contribute to the enrichment of our lives.

The Festival of Music and Washington International Piano Artists Competition is scheduled in late JULY or early AUGUST, annually. Detailed information is provided as soon as available on the COMPETITIONS page of this website. Interested pianists are encouraged to contact WIPAC for further information on dates, eligibility, and preparation requirements.

Over the past 10 years since its inception, WIPAC has been very privileged to have presented annual “Winners Grand Prix” piano concerts at foreign embassies in Washington, DC, and the Board is very grateful for the ongoing cooperation over the years from the French, Bulgarian, Portuguese, Austrian, Polish, Romanian, German, Serbian, Icelandic, Philippine, Malaysian and Finish Embassies, and the Mexican Cultural Institute, for graciously allowing us to present concerts in their great atriums, salons and residences to the delight of audiences.

WIPAC also has organized fabulous musical galas and many piano concerts with the gracious patronage of the Ambassador of Iceland H. E. Helgi Agustsson & Mrs. Helgi Agustsson; Ambassadors of Malta, H. E. John Lowell and Mrs. Therese Lowell and H. E. Mark Miceli & Mrs. Josette Miceli-Farrugia, and the Ambassadors of The Rublic of Poland, H. E.Janusz Reiter and Mrs. Hanna Reiter, and H. E. Mr. Robert Kupiecki and Mrs. Malgorzata Kupiecki, and H.E. Ambassador of Bulgaria, Elena Poptodorova and Georgi Petrof. WIPAC concert events and galas have also featured generous performances of pianists, Christopher Shih, Henri Delbeau, Paul Romero, Vincent Schmithorst, Viscount Thurston,and Ali Mustaq, all former winners of WIPAC's international piano competition.

We cordially invite our audiences and supporters to join our membership so that we may continue to make piano music artistry flourish in our community. Let great music live and continue to enrich our hearts and minds!