Bad Schandau Organ and Music Summer: "Deeply Inspired"—Piano Concerto for Two and Four Hands
Passion, drama, and an unwavering creative drive come together in the four-hand piano performances of brothers Markus and Pascal Kaufmann (born 1991, 1993). Their active concert schedule has made them sought-after pianists since early childhood. They regularly perform as guests at events such as the Saxon Mozart Festival, the Bayreuth Steingraeber Festival, the König-Albert-Theater in Bad Elster, and throughout the diverse castle landscape of Central Germany, playing one or two grand pianos.
Their hallmark is their creative program design, in which they often reveal themselves to be equally eloquent and witty music enthusiasts.
Their educational backgrounds include joint studies at the Dresden University of Music “Carl Maria von Weber” and the University of Church Music.
A first prize at the “Piano ohne Grenzen” International Piano Competition and numerous special and national awards have recognized their captivating organ, harpsichord, and piano performances, as have scholarships from the Saxon Mozart Society. As a soloist, Pascal Kaufmann was awarded the “Christoph Graupner Art Prize” and the “Carl Maria von Weber Scholarship” at the Semperoper in Dresden.
In 2017, Markus Kaufmann completed his studies with the A-level exam in church music in order to continue an innovative, internationally oriented concert series as cathedral organist with the Quedlinburg Music Summer at St. Servatii Collegiate Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Markus Kaufmann was appointed cantor and organist at St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig. Since 2021, he has been playing Saxony’s largest organ there, shaping church music at the historic site of the Peaceful Revolution.
After completing his A-Exam and subsequently serving as an assistant at the Frauenkirche in Dresden, Pascal Kaufmann created a new concert format in Augustusburg called the “Augustusburg Music Summer” and caused a sensation with the founding of the “Augustusburg Youth Philharmonic.” In 2024, he was awarded the “Johann Walter Medal” for his extraordinary dedication.
In their hometown of Lichtenstein, the brothers have been organizing the “Tastenfeuerwerk,” a festival for the piano, since 2005—each year, over three consecutive days, they dedicate themselves to the work of a single composer; a format they developed together with their early mentor Markus Ludwig, which draws packed audiences to concert halls and churches every year.
As their latest CD release, following their 2019 recording of “The Carnival of the Animals,” the piano duo Markus and Pascal Kaufmann in 2019, the piano duo Markus and Pascal Kaufmann released a new CD in 2023 featuring an entire piano concert program of works by Franz Schubert, interspersed with their own commentary.
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Tickets: 10 euros
Available starting June 8, 2026, at the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Office in Bad Schandau or at the Bad Schandau Tourist Information Office
Box office opens 30 minutes before the concert begins at St. John’s Church in Bad Schandau
Dates
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Payment methods
Ticket pre-sale, Tickets at the door
Directions & Parking facilities
St. John’s Church is located in the center of Bad Schandau, right on the market square. It is easily accessible from the Bad Schandau National Park train station by taking the ferry across the Elbe River, followed by a short walk.
For those arriving by car, public parking is available throughout the city. From the Elbe quay and the central parking areas, visitors can reach the church on foot in just a short time.
You can reach Bad Schandau by public transportation via the S1 S-Bahn line and numerous regional bus routes. From the National Park Station, the ferry service takes you to the city center. From there, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to St. John’s Church.
For those arriving by car, public parking is available throughout the city. From the Elbe quay and the central parking areas, visitors can reach the church on foot in just a short time.
You can reach Bad Schandau by public transportation via the S1 S-Bahn line and numerous regional bus routes. From the National Park Station, the ferry service takes you to the city center. From there, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to St. John’s Church.
Price info
Price adult: €10.00
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