
5th Edition: August 13-20, 2026

2026 Schedule

Reykjavík Pianofest MasterclassesMon, Aug 03Reykjavík
Concert in Patreksfjörður: Chopin SalonSat, Aug 15Patreksfjörður
Concert in TálknafjörðurSun, Aug 16Tálknafjörður
Concert in ÍsafjörðurWed, Aug 19Tónlistarskóli Ísafjarðar
Concert in HólmavíkThu, Aug 20Hólmavík
About
The International Westfjords Piano Festival presents world-class piano recitals in the beautiful Westfjords region of Northwest Iceland. Each year invited pianists produce exciting programs across several artist concerts. In addition, the artists give free masterclasses, lessons and workshops to the students in the community, culminating in a joint student & artist concert. In our 5th edition held in August 2026, our concerts will be held in Tálknafjörður, Patreksfjörður, Ísafjörður, Reykjavík, and Hólmavík.
Westfjords Piano Festival is gratefully funded and sponsored by Uppbyggingarsjóður Vestfjarða (Westfjords Development Fund), Tónlistarsjóður (Music Fund), Eyrarrósin, Listamannalaun (Artist’s Salary Fund), Vesturbyggð Menningar og Ferðamálaráð, Lionsklúbbur Patreksfjarðar, Menningarsjóður FÍH, Tónlistarskóli Vesturbyggðar, Arnarlax, Fjölval Verslun, and Vestur Restaurant.
2026 Artists
Andrew J. Yang
(USA/Iceland)
Artistic Director
Andrew J. Yang has an active performance career across the Europe, North America, and Asia. Deemed by The San Francisco Examiner as "a prodigy, [running] the emotional gamut from brooding introspection to manic exuberance” and by Ruth Slenczynska, legendary pianist and student of Rachmaninoff, as “a gifted musician and serious artist”, Yang has performed at venues such as Mozarthaus in Vienna, Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík, Musiikkitalo in Helsinki, Judaica Foundation in Krakow, and the Hoheikan in Sapporo. Yang was awarded the top prize at the 30th International FLAME Piano Competition in Paris, France, and has also received awards from numerous competitions including the International Heida Hermanns Piano Competition and the Metropolitan International Piano Competition in New York City. In 2018, Yang was awarded a "White Rose" Medal of Honor for musical excellence from President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö. Since 2020, Yang has resided in Iceland. He spent three years teaching at Tónlistarskóli Vesturbyggðar and is currently based in the Reykjavík area where he is on the piano faculty at Tónlistarskólinn í Reykjavík and Tónskóli Sigursveins. Yang also creates rock, R&B, and indie music where he sings and also plays guitar and violin.
Carl Zhang
(Canada/Austria)
Canadian pianist, Carl Zhang, has garnered top prizes in various esteemed competitions, including the Concours de Musique du Canada, Concours de musique Sorel-Tracy, Concours de musique de Sherbrooke, Concours Clermont-Pépin, and the Concours Gustav Mahler. Zhang received two Master’s degrees in piano performance at two prestigious institutions: University of Montreal and the Geneva Haute École de Musique. In 2018, he was accepted into the PhD program at the University of Montreal, with a dedicated focus on exploring the music of the revered Viennese composer, Franz Schubert. However, the world had unexpected plans in store. During an exchange year at the University of Performing Arts in Vienna, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Carl's plans to return to Canada. Faced with uncertainties and unable to return home, he made the decision to stay in the vibrant Austrian capital, Vienna. Since then, Vienna has become the artistic hub of Carl Zhang's multifaceted career and life, where he performs in concerts, collaborates with various singers, teaches piano, coaches aspiring vocalists, and accompanies instrumentalists.

Jakub Urgoł was born on December 6, 2005, in Rybnik. He began his school education at the age of 5 in 2010. At the same time, he began studying piano at the Józef Świder Primary and Secondary Music School in Jastrzębie-Zdrój under the supervision of Dr. Hab. Anna Miech. In 2020, he participated in the "1st MusicAlive international online piano competition," where he won second prize. In 2023, he graduated from the music school, simultaneously completing the Stanisław Staszic High School with bilingual classes in Jastrzębie Zdrój, majoring in mathematics and physics. After these events, he participated in the "Kraków Piano Summer" music course, taught by Adam Wibrowski, Gloria Campaner, Andrew Yang, Brenda Bruce, and Lesław Możdżer. He is currently continuing his piano studies at the Józef Staszic Academy of Music in Jastrzębie-Zdrój. Karol Lipiński in Wrocław in the piano class of Prof. Jan Kubica.
Jakub Urgoł
(Poland)

Meet the Team

Andrew J. Yang
Artistic Director

Sara Líf Helgadóttir
Project Manager
Graphic Designer

Helga Gísladóttir
Public Relations

Alda Hrannardóttir
Organizational Consultant

