The Industrial University of Santander (UIS) has unveiled the official image of the 42nd International Piano Festival, to be held from August 4 to 23, 2025, in Bucaramanga and other municipalities across the Santander region.
Under the theme “Rhythms that Resonate, Stories that Sound!” this edition of the Festival promises to be vibrant, diverse, and profoundly artistic.
The artwork that will visually accompany this edition is titled “Sonata Boreal” and was created by Santander artist Ricardo Orduz Ordóñez. Executed in acrylic on canvas, this 1.40 x 1.00-meter piece evokes, according to the artist, a graphic composition born from listening to Latin American piano references.
Its visual language is filled with luminous and colorful movements, staying true to the dreamlike and geometric style that defines Maestro Orduz, who has more than three decades of experience in the visual arts. “Before creating any element for the Festival’s image, I listened to Latin American pianists and noticed the contrast in sounds and rhythms compared to existing compositions. That allowed me to feel the spirit—not rebellious, but free—of our musicians. For the poster, I focused on expressing the warmth of our sun, our mountain ranges, and elements that make up the piano’s body,” the artist explained.
This year, the Festival will host pianists and ensembles from Germany, Cuba, the United States, Russia, Colombia, Mexico, Bulgaria, and Italy. As part of the event, the 21st edition of the National Piano Competition will also take place, featuring professional, youth, and children’s categories. The program will include more than 80 activities, such as concerts, recitals, exhibitions, and academic gatherings, distributed across 11 programs in Bucaramanga and 12 additional municipalities in the department.
Regarding his participation in designing the official poster of the 2025 UIS International Piano Festival, Orduz Ordóñez added: “Due to the importance of the event and its increasingly prominent role in the cultural landscape of the department, it is an honor, a great commitment, and a joyful responsibility I have taken on. I thank the Cultural Directorate of the Universidad Industrial de Santander for their trust and for choosing me to be part of the festival’s organization.”
