When Bennet Eicke took part in the premiere of the FEUERWERK Piano Academy in 2017, he felt motivated just watching his fellow participants, who mainly came from Lithuanian. They played by heart and with great virtuosity, whereas Bennet needed to read from the sheet and, in hindsight, describes his playing as tensed up. The student realized “what skills you can develop by practicing. Thanks to the people and the opportunity to engage with music there, the academy inspired me and showed me that classical music is my true calling.” Today, four years on and after attending the academy three more times, the 22-year-old has made his dream come true and is studying conducting in Leipzig.

Sponsors bear the costs

“His abilities have improved enormously,” says professional pianist Gintaras Januševičius, who founded the FEUERWERK Piano Academy. The concept behind his master class: Pianists can’t apply to take part, but instead have to make a positive impression at competitions, festivals and other academies to gain an invitation. They then spend eight days over Christmas in Einbeck filled with lessons, lectures and concerts. Sponsors pay for the costs – and the AKB Foundation has helped fund the academy from day one.

Bennet Eicke managed to capture a place at the academy from 2017 to 2019 because he won prizes in Germany’s “Youth makes music” contest and the “Chinese-German Young Pianist Competition” in Hamburg. He has been a member of the organizational team since 2020.

More than just lessons

The master class not only helps participants like himself improve their prowess at the piano. Professional physiotherapists also give tips on ensuring a correct posture (“a pianist sits unhealthily for quite a long time”), Gintaras Januševičius provides advice on how professional pianists can organize their work as freelancers, and performance psychology helps participants cope with being in the limelight: “A pianist faces an environment similar to that for a professional athlete,” explains Bennet Eicke. “You’re on your own and have to react in a split second if something goes wrong.”

The pianists demonstrate what they learn at the academy at five New Year Concerts in Einbeck, Hanover, Braunlage and Bad Gandersheim. Bennet Eicke describes these concerts as the culmination of the week: “You share the excitement and root for each other because you’ve worked and lived together intensively. You become an ensemble.”

And the audience experiences evenings of great virtuosity, such as in Einbeck’s town hall: “This concert with all the talented and impressive musicians and their inspiring music was a great pleasure,” were the words of praise from Michael Büchting, a member of the AKB Foundation’s board. “We thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful evening.” |