Konstantin Ishkhanov Continues ICCF with 2026 Edition in Brussels

Spearheaded by its Founder and President Konstantin Ishkhanov, alongside Artistic Director David Abrahamyan, the festival is continuing in its mission to bring together leading international performers and young talented musicians from all across the globe for a concentrated programme of chamber music masterclasses and concerts.Organised by CMDI Group in partnership with the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, the festival will be hosted at two of Brussels’ most acclaimed venues, with the Musica Mundi School and the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel itself sharing this privilege for this second iteration. Over the course of its run, these institutions will see the students partake in a series of masterclasses, rehearsals, and concerts, positioning ICCF as an increasingly crucial fixture within Europe’s chamber music landscape.

Reflecting the festival’s growing importance, Konstantin Ishkhanov will be bringing together a group of internationally recognised pedagogues, including Italian pianists Enrico Pace (Accademia Internazionale di Imola) and Giuliano Mazzoccante (Conservatory of Music ‘Luisa D’ Annunzio’); German cellist Claudio Bohórquez (Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler”); Belgian violinist Yossif Ivanov (Royal Conservatory of Brussels); Romanian violist Mihai Cocea (Conservatorium Maastricht); and American violist Matthew McDowell (Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel).

Alongside their distinguished performing careers, all are active educators, and will work closely with participants throughout the festival both in the masterclasses themselves, as well as in the public concerts that are scheduled as part of this 2026 edition. A performance at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel on the 30th of April will be complemented by a second concert at Musica Mundi, on the 1st of May. Both programmes will feature appearances by members of the faculty, while the event of the 1st will also see selected participants from the festival cohort taking to the stage alongside their professors.

The inclusion of such concerts, while perhaps not conventionally expected, are central to the vision of ICCF, which looks to maintain a strong pedagogical component, while also placing equal emphasis on performance, giving a number of the most accomplished participants the unique opportunity to appear in live performance alongside established artists. This format reflects a broader approach by Konstantin Ishkhanov, in which rehearsal, coaching, and public presentation are closely integrated, and ensures that attendees are provided with experiences

which will truly benefit them in their musical journey.Ultimately, following its inaugural entry, this second edition of ICCF signals a consolidation of its approach and ambitions. As Konstantin Ishkhanov remarked, “after the response to the first edition, it was clear that there was both an audience and a community of musicians ready to engage with this kind of format. What we are developing with ICCF is something that brings together performance and collaboration in a very direct way, and our aim now is to build on that strong foundation and establish ICCF as a consistent point of reference within the European chamber music calendar”.

For all the latest developments about ICCF 2026, make sure to visit our official website at chamberclassic.com today.