A longshot piano champion keys a remarkable show.

At the dawn of the Space Age, the USSR affirmed its technological prowess with the 1957 Sputnik space launch. They then sought to further one-up the U.S. on the cultural front by founding the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958, which they assumed would be won by a Russian. Only problem: An unknown young Texan named Harvey Lavan “Van” Cliburn showed up, outclassed the field, and shocked the Russian establishment as well as most of the classical music world. The sensational victory also caused an idea to take root back home.

In 1962, a group of music teachers and citizens from Fort Worth decided to commemorate the pianist’s historic achievement by founding the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, held every four years and now widely regarded as among the world’s most significant competitions.

San Jose native Jon Nakamatsu, who makes his fifth appearance in Monterey County this weekend, is familiar with the competition. The soft-spoken Stanford grad studied piano since age 6, but his college degrees came in language and education. Teaching German at Mountain View’s Saint Francis High School from 1991-97, he played part-time – and then decided to go for a career in music. In June 1997, Nakamatsu entered and won the gold medal at the 10th Van Cliburn Competition, registering a victory nearly as surprising and startling as Cliburn’s four decades earlier.

Even his lifelong piano teacher, the late Marina Derryberry, was surprised. “I don’t expect gold,” she told a reporter while the judges deliberated. “The standard is so high. To even be here is an honor.”

The pianist’s Saturday evening solo program includes a Chopin Scherzo, Nocturne and Polonaise, along with a sonata each from Mozart, Brahms and the prolific 20th-century Russian composer Dmitry Kabalevsky.

Sunday marks the return of three other favorites, the trio of David Finckel, Wu Han and Philip Setzer. Last heard here in May 2016 on Beethoven quartets, they complete the cycle by programming from the same composer, including the famous Archduke Trio.

Both of these concerts conclude their respective promoter’s decades-long anniversary seasons: Chamber Music Monterey’s 50th and Carmel Music Society’s 90th. Look for the ramp-up to 2017-18 in late summer/early fall.

JON NAKAMATSU, piano 8pm Saturday, April 8. $15-$64. 625-2212, chambermusicmontereybay.org.

DAVID FINCKEL, cello; WU HAN, piano and PHILIP SETZER, violin 3pm Sunday, April 9. $45-$60. 625-9938, carmelmusic.org. Both shows at Sunset Center, Carmel.