USA: Pianist's pick of the top 10 music festivals and workshops to attend this summer

With many around the world well into the summer season already, a lot of us will be attending festivals, events, concerts, and workshops. For those of you based in and around the USA, we've compiled a list of 10 music festivals and workshops for you to attend over this summer! With locations ranging from California to New York, you're sure to find an event near you. Check out this list below.

 

1. International Music Camp Piano Program

Dunseith, North Dakota

July 8 - 14

Located 96 miles outside of the city of Minot, this music camp is suitable for anyone aged 10+ with at least two years' piano experience. Daily classes in technique, literature, musicianship, performance, harmony, theory and more will make this particular workshop one not to be missed.

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2. Mostly Mozart Festival

Lincoln Center, New York

July 12 - August 12

Held at the stunningly historical Lincoln Center in New York, the Mostly Mozart Festival is surprisingly varied! Emanuel Ax plays Bernstein and Gershwin and is joined by a pair of glass-harmonica virtuosos. Paul Lewis gives a late-night Haydn recital, and there's even some Mozart played by Christian Zacharias.

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3. Music@Menlo

Atherton, California

July 13 - August 4

This San Francisco Bay Area festival focuses on the interaction between young and established artists, led by cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han. Courses complement music-making in a relaxed festival ambience.

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4. Marlboro Music Festival

Marlboro College, Vermont

July 14 - August 12

Artistic director Mitsuko Uchida maintains the Marlboro mystique in which established stars and young musicians gather for intensive rehearsal before giving five weekends of concerts. Pianists this year include Uchida herself, Jonathan Biss, Bruno Canino, Ieva Jokubaviciute and Dénes Várjon.

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5. International Keyboard Institute and Festival

Hunter College, New York

July 15 - 29

It's the 20th anniversary for this New York series of lectures, masterclasses and recitals led by the pedagogue Jerome Rose, who opens proceedings with a recital of Liszt and Schumann. Debussy dominates the program of Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, whilst Yekwon Sunwoo showcases Beethoven amongst others.

> TICKETS <

 

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6. Piano Sonoma Workshop

Sonoma State University, California

July 22 - 28 & July 29- August 4

Based at Sonoma State University, this workshop features private lessons, chamber music rehearsals, masterclasses, chances to perform... and optional wine tasting! This latter feature limits the age of participants to 18+ (unfortunately). Solo and duo courses for intermediate and advanced levels are also available.

> TICKETS <

 

7. Washington International Piano Festival

John F. Kennedy Center & the Catholic University of America, Washington

July 22 - July 31

Young concert pianists, amateurs and piano lovers from all over the world are invited to participate in this inspiring and unique one-week festival. In addition to presenting some of the best internationally-renowned pianists in recital, including Sofya Gulyak and Alexander Tutunov, the festival is hosting the Young Pianist Showcase concert series for both participants and audiences. These 30-minute concerts will feature an array of extraordinarily talented young pianists who are prizewinners of local, national and international piano competitions.

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8. Golandsky Institute Summer Symposium

Portland, Oregon

July 22 - August 4

Taking place in Portland, Oregon, this five-day workshop features the teaching of the Taubman Approach to piano playing. The workshop includes private lessons, supervised practice times, technique clinics, lectures, masterclasses and evening concerts. There will also be presentations and lectures by Edna Golandsky and others. Suitable for ages 18 and over.

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9. Bard Music Festival

The Richard B. Fisher Center, New York

August 10 - 19

'Rimsky-Korsakov and His World' is the theme for two weekends of wide-ranging events including a survey of Russian piano music and a closer look at domestic music-making in the era of 'The Mighty Handful'.

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10. ArtsAhimsa Music Festival at Belvoir Terrace

Lenox, Massachusetts

August 15 - 22

Set at a beautiful 19th-century estate in Lenox, Massachusetts, ArtsAhimsa promotes non-violence through arts. The festival also includes Chamber music classes for adults at a good playing level. The faculty includes Paul Epstein, Donna Gill, Sina Kiai and So Hee Kwon.

> TICKETS <