Piano Program : Study 2013

Recognized nationally by artists for its superior piano program, the 2013 five-week session will offer a limited number of piano students the opportunity to work with some of this country's finest teachers and performers. As a Steinway Festival, this year's program is enhanced by the addition of artists-in-residence, as well as popular visiting artists.

In 2013, the school's piano program will accept up to twenty-one qualified students for enrollment. The five-week program features formal instruction through private lessons, master classes, chamber music studies, and a variety of interesting classes offered each year focusing on everything from technique to the history of the instrument.

Private Study

The focus of EMF's Piano Program is intensive study with the Festival's resident faculty. In addition, artists in residence visit EMF for an extended period of time throughout the summer, giving students more one-on-one opportunities to learn from the nation's greatest teachers. Students work on repertoire already in progress, improving technique, and learning new repertoire for student piano recitals. Teacher assignments are made at the beginning of the Festival. Students have ready access to more than 25 Steinway-affiliated grand pianos for daily practice and rehearsals.

Piano Classes

Master Classes Each week, piano students participate in a master class led by resident faculty members. Several students will be invited by the faculty to perform in public master classes given by the guest artists in residence.

Performance Classes In addition to master classes, students participate in weekly performance classes led by piano faculty. The small-group settings offer a supportive atmosphere for the development of performance skills.

Literature Classes and Seminars Piano literature classes and topical seminars are led by faculty, focusing on topics such as musical styles of various eras, historic recordings, technique, memorization, overcoming stage fright, and building a recital program.

• View classes and seminars

Piano Recitals

Students perform on the weekly Piano Recital series, which is open to the public. In addition, there are opportunities to perform with chamber music ensembles and the student orchestras. Pianists may also compete in the Concerto Competition and in the solo Piano Competition. Finalists of EMF's Piano Competition travel to Washington, DC and perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

Piano Competition

This summer, in celebration of the one-hundredth anniversaries of the births of Benjamin Britten, Norman Dello Joio, Morton Gould and Witold Lutoslawski, EMF is hosting its fourth piano competition! Open exclusively to EMF students, this competition will give young pianists an opportunity to experience the preparation and performance aspects of competing and gain feedback from some of the nation's most distinguished pedagogues and performers. Participants will prepare a 20-25 minute program that represents at least two stylistic periods, and is requested (not required) to include a piece by one of the aforementioned composers. In addition to cash prizes, the three winners will travel to Washington, DC and perform on the Millennium Stage Series at the Kennedy Center.

• First Prize: $1,000
• Second Prize: $500
• Third Prize: $250

The registration fee to participate is $40 and must be paid by June 1. Participants will prepare a 20-25 minute program that represents at least two stylistic periods. Individual movements or excerpts from multi-movement works are permitted. There will be a preliminary and a final round, both 20 minutes in length. The final round is open to the public.