International Piano Conference returns to Lombard in July

The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025, the premier international gathering that draws over 1,000 piano educators and music professionals, will take place in Lombard this summer.

From July 23-26, the in-person conference at the Westin Chicago Lombard Hotel offers local teachers and musicians a transformative opportunity to engage with peers and leaders from around the world.

Held every two years in Lombard, the conference brings together practitioners, higher education faculty, researchers, performers, and emerging professionals. With dedicated programming across the full spectrum of piano education, NCKP serves as a central meeting point for the profession. As a signature initiative of The Frances Clark Center, the event convenes global leaders to explore the field’s most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities.

“We are thrilled to welcome educators and pianists from Illinois and around the world to The Piano Conference: NCKP 2025,” said Dr. Jennifer Snow, president and CEO of The Frances Clark Center. “By focusing on collaboration and innovation, this conference supports our community as they lead transformative change through music.”

In addition to the in-person event, a virtual component will be held June 7-8, 2025. The online sessions will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Korean, extending global access and broadening participation.

A global stage for innovation and impact

NCKP 2025 features keynote addresses, concerts, and more than 200 sessions designed to inspire and inform. With programming that spans early childhood pedagogy through advanced collegiate instruction, the conference offers unmatched depth for piano educators at every level.

Highlights include:

• Interactive presentations on performance, technology, wellness, entrepreneurship, and inclusive teaching

• The Innovation Summit, focused on bold solutions in arts education

• Short-format PEDx Talks spotlighting pioneering ideas and fresh perspectives

• Five live concerts, including an evening of jazz and performances by renowned pianists

• A dedicated track for college students and young professionals

• An exhibit hall featuring publishers, education organizations, and instrument makers

• Networking opportunities throughout the conference for performers, teachers, and scholars

• A multilingual Virtual Pre-Conference Weekend, June 7-8

Registration is now open for both the in-person and online events. To learn more or register, visit pianoinspires.com/nckp-the-piano-conference/.