At the center of this year’s project is the second piano trio by the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich – a gripping work composed in the war year 1944, carrying the entire range of human emotions. Under the direction of choreographer Yasha Wang and set designer Sven Hansen, more than 100 children and teenagers have been engaging with the music of the Russian composer since February, developing a cross-school choreography, and creating stage elements. The impressive result of their collaboration will be presented together with a piano trio led by Lorenzo Soulès on the main stage of the Mercatorhalle. Additionally, choreographies and musical pieces created as part of the primary school activities of the Ruhr Piano Festival will be showcased. They were developed under the guidance of Petra Jebavy, Erika Pico, Bianca Pulungan, and Jutta Sabel.