Teaching session 1
2023-08-15 08:45 - 11:00 (Europe/London)
The first session of the day with all members of the faculty working intensely in individual lessons with the participants. Children are encouraged to watch other lessons. Drop in to listen to lessons and learn from the outstanding faculty.

Teaching session 2
2023-08-15 11:30 - 13:00
Individual lessons continue apace. With so many wonderful teachers and course options everyone will be kept very busy!. The piano summer school has an ‘open door’ policy – so do go and listen to other lessons. You might decide you want to learn jazz!

Teaching session 3
2023-08-15 14:45 - 17:00
Individual lessons take place throughout the school on all courses. In addition to the piano course there will be lessons on composition, harpsichord, jazz, theory, aural, sight-reading and much more. Observers always welcome.

Vladimir Tropp

Martino Tirimo recital
2023-08-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
We are thrilled to welcome back Martino Tirimo to perform and teach on the summer school.
Chopin 3 Mazurkas Op.59
Schubert Sonata in D major D850 (Gastein’)
i Allegro Vivace
ii Con Moto
iii Scherzo – Allegro Vivace
iv Rondo – Allegro Moderato
“A formidable virtuoso and one with unmistakeable magnetism.” The Guardian
“Tirimo’s playing belongs to a past generation of ‘greats’. Listening to him I conjure up aural images of Solomon, Arrau, Kempff, Serkin, Schnabel and Rubinstein. Throughout the evening one was consistently aware that this supreme musician placed himself entirely at the service of the composer.”
Bill Newman, Music and Vision

Carlo Grante Recital
2023-08-15 20:30 - 21:45 | Stoller Hall
“Grante’s meticulous, thoughtful virtuosity and stylistic insights have markedly evolved… Like Horowitz, Grante is a master at creating a multicoloured portfolio of legato shadings through fingers alone, pedaling ever so discreetly.” – Gramophone
We welcome back Carlo to give a recital and to teach on part one. Always a very popular teacher we await his recital with eagerness.
Rachmaninov

Etudes-Tableaux Op 33
No. 1 Allegro non troppo in F minor
No. 2 Allegro in C major
No. 3 Grave in C minor
No. 4 Moderato in D minor
No. 5 Non allegro—Presto in E♭ minor
No. 6 Allegro con fuoco in E♭ major
No. 7 Moderato in G minor
No. 8 Grave in C♯ minor

Etudes-Tableaux Op.39

No. 1 Allegro agitato in C minor
No. 2 Lento assai in A minor
No. 3 Allegro molto in F♯ minor
No. 4 Allegro assai in B minor
No. 5 Appassionato in E♭ minor
No. 6 Allegro in A minor
No. 7 Lento lugubre in C minor
No. 8 Allegro moderato in D minor
No. 9 Allegro moderato. Tempo di marcia in D major

Teaching session 3
2023-08-16 14:30 - 16:45
Individual lessons take place throughout the school on all courses. In addition to the piano course there will be lessons on composition, harpsichord, jazz, theory, aural, sight-reading and much more. Observers always welcome.

Philip Martin

Teaching session 2
2023-08-18 11:30 - 13:00
The final day of individual lessons on part one. Over 25 faculty will be working throughout the school.

Noriko Ogawa in Baronial Hall

Teaching session 3
2023-08-18 14:30 - 16:45
The final teaching session of the day. Take full advantage of the ‘open door’policy – have a listen to the amazing faculty throughout the day.

Dina Parakhina Recital
2023-08-18 20:30 - 21:30 | Stoller Hall
Dina is in great demand both as a performer and teacher. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the Stoller Hall for a solo recital.
After graduating with a “Diploma of Distinction” from both the Central Music School and the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Dina Parakhina went on the become one of the youngest-ever members of the Central Music School faculty when she inherited the chair formerly held by her teacher, professor Tamara Bobovich. She occupied this post for fifteen years until she moved to the UK in 1996, and was one of the most-wanted pedagogues in her native Russia. She combined teaching with a busy performing career, collaborating with many outstanding instrumentalists, singers and conductors, as well as playing with major Russian orchestras, giving recitals and making TV and radio broadcasts at the most prestigious venues in Moscow and other cities of the former Soviet Union.
Rachmaninov

Melodie Op 3 no. 3 (revised version)
Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op 42
Serenade Op.3 no. 5 revised version)
Moment Musicaax Op 16 no. 2 (revised version)
Second Sonata (revised version).

Diploma exams
2023-08-19 09:00 - 14:00 | G09
An opportunity for participants to take a Trinity College of London performing diploma on the summer school. Specialist examiners will listen to the performances in a large recital room with a Steinway grand for participants to play. Full details are on the website here.

Forysth Piano Workshop tour
2023-08-19 12:30 - 15:45
12.30 – 13.45 and 2.30pm – 15.45 – Tours of Forsyth’s Piano Workshops, Showrooms & Private Collection of Historical Keyboard Instruments

If you’ve enjoyed trying the 20 or so beautiful pianos that Forsyth have brought to the Summer School, you’ll love the enormous piano showroom just down the road at their historic 5-storey premises where you can try over 150!

Tai Chi
2023-08-20 08:00 - 08:30
We are thrilled to welcome Philip Smith to take early morning Tai Chi on part two of CIPSS. A perfect start to the day. Suitable for all ages.
The session will be held outside if the weather is kind.

Teaching session 3
2023-08-20 14:30 - 16:45
The final teaching session of the day for all individual lessons.

Philip Martin

Murray McLachlan Recital - The Chopin connection
2023-08-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
‘Murray McLachlan is a pianist with a virtuoso technique and a sure sense of line. His timing and phrasing are impeccable, and his tone-full but unforced in the powerful passages, gentle and restrained in the more lyrical- is a perpetual delight’ (BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE)
The Chopin connection- The Four Ballades with later homages
Homage à Godowsky- Chopin Nocturne op 9 no. 2 for left hand alone. Murray McLachlan (2022)
Chopin
Ballade no. 1 in G minor op. 23
Ballade no. 2 in F major/A minor op. 38
Ballade no. 3 in A flat op. 47
Ballade no. 4 in F minor op. 52

Ronald Stevenson Fugue on a fragment of Chopin (1949)

© Martin Lijinsky

Tai Chi
2023-08-21 08:00 - 08:30
Tai Chi’s gentle exercise help to reduce stress and tone and strengthen muscles. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Everyone welcome.

Junior Foundation 'drop in' practice clinic
2023-08-21 09:30 - 10:15 | G06
For all young pianists on the Foundation Course. Drop in to play a bar, or a small section, ask about fingering and learn lots of tips to take you into your practice room. Stay for 5 minutes or the whole class – so much can be discovered by listening to everyone.

Teaching session 3
2023-08-21 14:30 - 16:45
The third teaching session of the day. Over 100 pianos will be played during this session!

Martino Tirimo

Lecture with Peter Donohoe
2023-08-21 17:15 - 18:00 | Stoller Hall
In the years since his unprecedented success as Silver Medal winner of the 1982 7th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Peter Donohoe has built an extraordinary world-wide career, encompassing a huge repertoire and over forty years’ experience as a pianist, as well as continually exploring many other avenues in music-making. He is acclaimed as one of the foremost pianists of our time, for his musicianship, stylistic versatility and commanding technique.
Today Peter will talk about his experiences as a jury member on some of the world’s leading piano competitions. This promises to be a fascinating and illuminating talk.

Tai Chi
2023-08-22 08:00 - 08:30
Join Philip for another refreshing session of Tai Chi. If the weather is good we will hold this outside.

Teaching session 1
2023-08-22 08:45 - 11:00
Individual lessons continue with lessons taking place throughout the school. In addition to the piano course there will be lessons in jazz, composition, harpsichord, analysis, improvisation, theory, aural, sight-reading, dalcroze and alexander technique!

Noriko Ogawa teaching.

Teaching session 2
2023-08-22 11:30 - 13:00
The 2nd teaching session of the day. All of the faculty are busy giving daily individual lessons on all courses. Observers always welcome.

Philip Fowke working with the adult amateur workshop.

John Lenehan presents Sounds for Silents
2023-08-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
We are delighted to welcome back John Lenehan for another outstanding programme of silent films. Free to summer school paritipcnats – tickes are available for the general public from the Stoller Hall.
Praised by the New York Times for his “great flair and virtuosity”, John Lenehan’s performances and recordings have been acclaimed throughout the world. With more than 70 albums to his credit, reflecting an enormous variety of genres and styles, John Lenehan ranks as one of the most versatile pianists on the international classical music scene today.
In this original programme, John accompanies a programme of silent movies and music-inspired films. As director of “Sounds for Silents” he has written and arranged more than 20 film scores, which have been performed throughout the UK in Festivals such as Aldeburgh, Cheltenham, Brighton and Harrogate as well as in Italy, Germany, Norway and Australia. He continues to present film and music programmes, reviving the art of the improvising pianist – the most recent including the silent films of Laurel and Hardy.

Tai Chi
2023-08-23 08:00 - 08:30
The final session of Tai Chi. If you have not been before don’t miss the chance to come along and find out more. Suitable for all.

Teaching session 1
2023-08-23 08:45 - 11:00
The last day on part 2 for individual lessons. All lessons are open to observe – don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn from the outstanding faculty.

Nikki Iles and Friends
2024-08-08 21:15 - 22:15 | Oglesby Atrium
“A formidable UK jazz presence …”
“Iles is one of the most refreshing figures to have emerged in the UK scene in recent times, with a liquid sound and supple, obliquely resolved phrasing as an improviser”.
“Formidably creative…. “The Heroine of British Jazz …” The Guardian
‘Nikki Iles is a pianist of extraordinary imagination who thrives on fugitive melodies…” The Observer

We are thrilled to welcome back Nikki Iles to the course to both teach and perform.
Tonight Nikki is joined by Caroline Boaden and Steve Berry for an informal performance in the Oglesby Atrium.

Masterclass with Paul Lewis
2024-08-09 09:30 - 12:30 | Stoller Hall
This morning Paul will work with talented young pianists in a masterclass from Stoller Hall. Free to all participants. Public tickets available from Stoller Hall box office. Chetham’s International Piano Summer School – Public Performances: Day Two | The Stoller Hall

Paul’s multi-award winning discography for Harmonia Mundi includes the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, concertos, and the Diabelli Variations, Liszt’s B minor sonata and other late works, all of Schubert’s major piano works from the last six years of his life including the 3 song cycles with tenor Mark Padmore, solo works by Schumann and Mussorgsky, and the Brahms D minor piano concerto with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Daniel Harding. Future recording plans include a multi-CD series of Haydn sonatas, Beethoven’s bagatelles, and works by Bach.

After Chetham’s Paul studied with Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London before going on to study privately with Alfred Brendel. He is co-Artistic Director of Midsummer Music, an annual chamber music festival held in Buckinghamshire, UK.

Junior Foundation 'drop in' performance class
2024-08-09 14:45 - 15:30 | G06
Every day come along to hear other young pianists playing on a grand piano, in front of a supportive audience and member of the faculty.

Lecture with Murray McLachlan - Traum der Jugend: reflections on Ferruccio Busoni 100 years on
2024-08-09 17:15 - 18:00 | Stoller Hall
The first lecture of the course celebrates Ferruccio Busoni – 1866 – 1924
‘Music is so constituted that every context is a new context and should be treated as an ‘exception’. The solution of a problem, once found, cannot be reapplied to a different context. Our art is a theatre of surprise and invention, and of the seemingly unprepared. The spirit of music arises from the depths of our humanity and is returned to the high regions whence it has descended on mankind.’ F.Busoni
Free to all summer school participants. Tickets available to the public from the Stoller Hall.

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-10 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The morning begins for the Junior pianists with a group class in the magnificent Carole Nash Hall. This photo from last year shows the class exploring the importance of posture with Murray McLachlan.

Junior Foundation 'drop in' practice workshop
2024-08-10 09:30 - 10:15 | G06
The daily ‘drop -in’ class for all Junior Foundation pianists. A great way to set up the day with tips on every aspect of piano playing from a member of the faculty. Come along with a bar, or a small section for lots of advice and help to take you into your practice room.
