Carl Bechstein Stiftung

The Carl Bechstein Foundation is a non-profit foundation named after the visionary piano maker and entrepreneur Carl Bechstein. It is dedicated to the sustainable promotion of piano music as a living cultural heritage. The foundation supports projects and institutions that introduce children and young people to the piano at an early age, promotes highly gifted young pianists with scholarships, awards, and performance opportunities, and maintains a collection of historical keyboard instruments for the research and dissemination of piano history.

The Carl Bechstein Foundation is dedicated to promoting piano playing on a broad scale and emphasizing the significance of music as a universal language of humanity. It is committed to introducing children and young people to the piano from an early elementary school age, strengthening their fine motor and creative skills, and fostering long-term musical interest and social competencies. Furthermore, the foundation researches the history of piano music using historical instruments and makes it accessible to young pianists.

The funding programs of the Carl Bechstein Foundation are primarily aimed at children and young people who are to be introduced to piano playing at an early age, as well as particularly dedicated and talented young pianists within the framework of competitions, scholarships, and special awards. Furthermore, the foundation supports schools, music schools, concert halls, and cultural institutions that offer piano lessons and implement musical education programs.