A “convergence of talent” is how Marios Papadopoulos describes the nine-day piano jamboree that is arguably the high spot of the Oxford Philomusica’s annual calendar. Now in its 14th year, the festival continues to attract piano legends such as John Lill and Menahem Pressler, while the Summer Academy draws students from all over the world.

It’s an exceptionally busy time of the year for the Philomusica; as well as preparing for the piano festival, the Summer Baroque season is in full swing, with concerts in Oxford, Bristol, Bath and Malvern. As I catch up with Marios at the Sheldonian during a break in rehearsals, it’s obvious that he is relishing every moment, and looking forward to the piano festival with great anticipation — particularly the Philomusica’s own two concerts, where they will be playing with Menahem Pressler and the gifted young Russian pianist, Sergei Babayan.

“The opportunity to work with Menahem Pressler again is such a joy,” he tells me. “He’s a supreme musician, with so much experience behind him, and of course knowledge. He’s a great, great artist, and when he offers to play a piano concerto that is very gratefully and graciously received, and we find something to complement that – in this instance it’s the Mendelssohn Italian Symphony, which we haven’t played in Oxford for a while.

“On the other side of the spectrum, there’s Sergei Babayan, who wanted to do some Russian repertoire, so he’s playing Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.3. Building on that theme, we thought Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6 would complement that.

“We’re always conscious that whatever we present in the festival complements what we do in the rest of the season in Oxford, and neither the Tchaikovsky nor the Mendelssohn have featured in our programmes for several years now.”

Alongside these concerts will be the usual individual recitals, featuring the acclaimed Swiss pianist Andreas Haefliger, and two rising young stars, Alexander Kobrin and Haochen Zhang, both making their festival debuts this year. For Marios, though, the highlight will be John Lill’s recital at Christ Church Cathedral.

“I am a great, great fan of John Lill,” he says. “Apart from being the doyen of British pianists, he’s been to the festival several times now and I always have great pleasure in listening to him, and I always learn from him. He’s playing classics by Haydn and Brahms, and the Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) by Schumann, and that should be just sublime.”

The other important aspect of the festival, of course, is the Summer Academy, which helps nurture tomorrow’s stars. “The standard of participation now is probably at an all-time high,” Marios says. “For the past two or three years it’s been over-subscribed, so we are able to select those of the highest standard.”

Marios believes the academy is unique in its approach. “We abhor any notion of competition. We’re all there to learn from each other. It’s a very close family. We only accept 16 students, so they all get to know each other, and they play to each other, and that is very important.”

The International Piano Festival and Summer Academy runs from July 28 to August 5. Call the box office on 01865 980980 or visit oxfordphil.com/piano