Chetham’s International Piano Summer School

Teaching session 1
2025-08-15 08:45 - 11:00 (Europe/London)
The day begins with all members of the faculty teaching throughout the school. Everyone will receive a daily lesson as standard.

Junior Piano Group Class
2025-08-15 08:45 - 09:30 | Oglesby Atrium
The daily morning group class – singing, movement and more before all the individual lessons begin.

Early Morning Warm Ups with Murray
2025-08-15 08:15 - 08:30 | Oglesby Atrium
Murray McLachlan’s new sessions for all on the course continues apace!
A new early morning series of 15 minute group sessions in the Atrium led by founder and artistic director Murray McLachlan. Open to everyone on the course, the sessions will include a variety of ‘bite size’ projects, concepts and exercises relating to piano well-being and mindset as well as glimpses of repertoire. Embrace the unfamiliar! Look at well-loved music from different perspectives! Above all, start your CIPSS day in style with a real sense of positivity, energy and optimistic purpose.

Late Night Jazz Room
2025-08-14 22:00 | G04
New this year!
Every evening a chance for participants to play some jazz and improvisation in this lovely space on a superb grand piano kindly donated by Forsyth Music Shop.
Enjoy listening with a drink, or enjoy playing to fellow participants.

The Taubman Approach with Nina Tichman
2025-08-14 17:15 - 18:00 | Stoller Hall
American pianist Nina Tichman gave her Debut at the age of 17 with Beethoven´s ‘Emperor’ Concerto. Since that time she has performed in the musical centres of the world (Carnegie Hall, Kölner Philharmonie, Berliner Konzerthaus, Salzburger Festspielhaus et al). Winner of important international competitions – Busoni, Mendelssohn, Casagrande – Nina Tichman was Professor of Piano at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne from 1993-2024. She has held master classes at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, European Academy in Montepulciano, Amherst College, IKIF in New York City, Princeton University and the Holland Music Sessions.
Nina’s teachers included Ilona Kabos, Hans Leygraf, Alfons Kontarsky, Wilhelm Kempff and also Dorothy Taubman who founded the Taubman Institute of Piano and developed the Taubman approach to playing.
Today Nina will talk about the Taubman Approach and how it can be incorporated into both your own playing and into teaching.

'Drop in' performance class
2025-08-14 16:15 - 17:00 | G06
An exciting addition to the course – a daily opportunity to perform and hear other pianists on the course in a very informal performance session, hosted by a member of the faculty. All welcome.

Junior Advanced 'drop in' performance class
2025-08-14 15:30 - 16:15 | G06
An exciting daily opportunity to perform on a wonderful grand piano, supported by the other young pianists on the course.

Teaching session 3
2025-08-14 14:45 - 17:00
In this third teaching session relish the opportunity to ‘sit in’ on as many lessons as you can – observing some of the world’s leading piano teachers in action!

Leon McCawley

Junior Foundation 'drop in' performance class
2025-08-14 14:45 - 15:30 | G06
Every day Junior Foundation pianists can enjoy performing on an outstanding grand piano in front of a small and supportive audience, hosted by a member of the faculty.

Teaching session 2
2025-08-14 11:30 - 13:00
As individual lessons continue apace, take full advantage of the ‘open door’ policy on the summer school.

Teaching session 1
2025-08-14 08:45 - 11:00
The first session for individual lessons. Do pop into any of the teaching rooms to hear lessons given by the outstanding faculty. Everyone will have their own individual schedule for lessons but we have an open door policy for all sessions – an amazing opportunity to learn from observing some of the most respected teachers in the world.

Junior Piano Group Class
2025-08-14 08:45 - 09:30 | Oglesby Atrium
All pianists on the Junior Course start the day with a group class exploring Kodaly, singing, dalcroze and more. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy music making with new friends.
This photo from last year shows the class laying down with closed eyes as they listen to a piece of music with Murray McLachlan.

Early Morning Warm Ups with Murray
2025-08-14 08:15 - 08:30 | Oglesby Atrium
Begin your CIPSS week with a refreshing concentrated group session!
A new early morning series of 15 minute group sessions in the Atrium led by founder and artistic director Murray McLachlan. Open to everyone on the course,the sessions will include a variety of ‘bite size’ projects, concepts and exercises relating to piano well-being and mindset as well as glimpses of repertoire. Embrace the unfamiliar! Look at well-loved music from different perspectives! Above all, start your CIPSS day in style with a real sense of positivity, energy and optimistic purpose.
The atrium

Late Night Jazz Room with Nikki Iles
2025-08-13 22:00 | G04
New this year!
Every evening a chance for participants to play some jazz and improvisation in this lovely space on a superb grand piano kindly donated by Forsyth Music Shop. On the opening night we are thrilled that Nikki Iles will perform a short set for us as we enjoy our welcome drink.

Participant recitals
2024-08-17 17:00 - 18:00
Another opportunity to perform on a concert grand piano including Steinway, Bösendorfer, Yamaha, Schimmel in one of the recital rooms. Make sure to choose this option on the application form.

Adult Amateur Workshop
2024-08-17 11:30 - 13:00 | G06
The daily adult amateur workshop. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to play to Martyn Parkes. Everyone is very welcome to come up and play, even just a few bars.

Lunchtime Recital - Jeremias Fliedl, cello and Callum McLachlan, piano
2024-08-16 13:45 - 14:30 | Stoller Hall
The daily lunchtime recital in the Stoller Hall.
J.S. Bach – Arioso from the Cantata “Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe” G-Dur BWV 156
Debussy Sonata
Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto
Sérénade: Modérément animé
Finale: Animé, léger et nerveux

Brahms Sonata in E minor op 38
Allegro non troppo
Allegretto quasi Menuetto
Allegro

Jeremias Fliedl is among the leading Austrian cellists of his generation. He has performed at prestigious international stages, most notable engagements include the Salzburg Festival, the Mozart Week Salzburg, the Carinthian Summer, the Südtirol Festival Merano, CLASSIX Kempten, the Musiktage Mondsee, the Vevey Spring Classic Festival, the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht, the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam, the Salzkammergut Festwochen Gmunden, the Festival Sankt Gallen as well as concerts at the Vienna Musikverein, the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Centre for Fine Arts Brussels, the Konzerthaus Dortmund and the Laeiszhalle Hamburg.
He has appeared with Petrit Çeku, Stéphane Denève, Veronika Eberle, Ziyu He, Maximilian Kromer, Nikola Meeuwsen, Nils Mönkemeyer, Daniel Müller-Schott, Benedict Mitterbauer, Julian Rachlin, Timothy Ridout, Case Scaglione, Benjamin Schmid, the Simply Quartet, Emmanuel Tjeknavorian, Kiron Atom Tellian, Dominik Wagner and Stefan Wilkening among others.
As a soloist he has performed with orchestras such as the Brussels Philharmonic, Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, Salzburg Orchestra Soloists, Zagreb Soloists, Zagreb Chamber Orchestra, Beethoven Philharmonie, Matrix Orchestra, Carinthian Symphony Orchestra, Academia Ars Musicae, Camerata Ars Vivendi, Sandor Végh Institute Chamber Orchestra, Webern Chamber Philharmonic, Euro Symphony SFK, Olsztyn Philharmonic Orchestra, Artsakh Symphony Orchestra and Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra.

In 2024, he released his debut album “TRANSFORMATION”, which was met with great acclaim among critics: “a sumptuous feast of cello timbres” (BBC Music Magazine), “brilliant” (Die Presse), “technically brilliant and with astonishing musical maturity” (Concerti), “soulful expression, marvellous legato” (Klassik Heute). The album was recorded with the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn under Emmanuel Tjeknavorian and was released by the label Berlin Classics.
Born in Klagenfurt in 1999, Jeremias Fliedl’s musical development was significantly influenced by Heinrich Schiff as his last student at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna after his initial training with Igor Mitrovic. He completed his bachelor’s degree with Clemens Hagen at the University Mozarteum Salzburg and graduated with a master’s degree from Julian Steckel at the University of Music and Theatre Munich. He received important artistic input from Daniel Müller-Schott and Michael Sanderling. He is a prizewinner of the Liezen Competition, the Svirél Competition, the Antonio Janigro Competition and also the first Austrian cellist to be awarded as a laureate at the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
Jeremias Fliedl plays the “ex Gendron, Lord Speyer”, a cello made by Antonio Stradivari in 1693, which is privately loaned to him
.
Tickets available through the Stoller Hall. Free to all summer school participants and observers.

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-16 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The daily class for all young pianists – a chance to learn together in the glorious Carole Nash Hall.

Graham Scott Recital
2024-08-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
Hailed by the Gramophone magazine as ‘an exceptional talent’ Graham Scott has performed extensively throughout the world most notably in New York (92nd St. Y), Washington DC (Kennedy Center), Los Angeles (Ambassador Auditorium), Tokyo (Suntory Hall), Beijing (Beijing Concert Hall and Forbidden City Concert Hall), Paris (Bagatelle) as well as all the major London venues (Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Barbican Centre.)
Graham studied at Chetham’s School of Music and the RNCM. He became the first artist to win both the YCA Inc. auditions in New York and the YCAT auditions in London. He also won the Dudley National Piano Competition and the Jaen International Piano Competition in Spain.
Since 2007 he has held the position of Head of Keyboard Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Artistic Director of the RNCM James Mottram International Piano Competition.

Lecture with Paul Hindmarsh - Who was Wilfred Heaton?
2024-08-15 17:15 - 18:00 | Stoller Hall
In the early 1950s Sheffield composer Wilfred Heaton undertook a number of consultation lessons in composition with the distinguished emigre Hungarian teacher Matyas Seiber. The results of this advice were far-reaching on Heaton’s style, as can be heard in this Piano Sonata.
Paul Hindmarsh, a former BBC producer for 21 years now devotes his time to historical and analytical research. British music of the past 150 years is his special field of interest. His Thematic Catalogue of the music of Frank Bridge (1879 – 1941) became the standard reference work on this composer.
Today Paul will talk about Wilfred Heaton and the sonata before it is given the World Premiere by Murray McLachlan.

Lunchtime Recital - Pedro López Salas
2024-08-15 13:45 - 14:30 | Stoller Hall
The daily lunchtime recital in the Stoller Hall.
Gubaidulina Chaconne
Beethoven – Piano Concerto No 3 with Henry Cash 2nd piano
1 Allegro 2 Largo 3 Rondo Allegro-Presto
Tickets available through the Stoller Hall. Free to all summer school participants and observers.

Adult Amateur Workshop
2024-08-15 11:30 - 13:00 | G06
Join Martyn Parkes for the daily group workshop. Everyone is very friendly and the atmosphere will be warm and inviting, offering a supportive setting for performance and discussion. The piano is an outstanding concert grand, kindly donated by Forsyth Music shop.

Philip Fowke with the Adult amateur group.

Junior Advanced 'drop in' practice workshop
2024-08-15 10:15 - 11:00 | G06
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. Come for 5 minutes or stay for the whole class.

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-15 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The daily group class for all pianists on the Junior Piano Courses. A chance to learn together before individual lessons and workshops continue throughout the day.

Junior Advanced 'drop in' practice workshop
2024-08-14 10:15 - 11:00 | G06
The daily ‘drop -in’ class for all Junior Advanced 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.

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-14 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The first morning group class for all Junior Course pianists on part two, in the outstanding Carole Nash Hall. An opportunity to learn from some of the inspirational faculty on the course.

Tours of Forsyth's Piano Workshops, Showrooms & Private Collection of Historical Keyboard Instruments
2024-08-13 12:30 - 15:45
12.30pm – 1.45pm or 2.30pm – 3.45pm
Forsyth’s free, informal, behind-the-scenes tours are a popular feature of the Summer School programme every year and offer a rare and fascinating insight into the inner workings of pianos, how they are restored and maintained by their on-site specialists, and the different methods of construction of the various makers. Forsyth stock new pianos by Schimmel, Bösendorfer, August Förster, Yamaha, Kawai, Shigeru Kawai, Casio and Ritmüller, and always have an interesting selection of quality pre-owned instruments by makers such as Steinway and other well known brands all fully-serviced in Forsyth’s workshops.
As an extra treat, the tours will also include exclusive access to Forsyth’s private collection of historical keyboard instruments. If you are interested in how the piano and its relatives have developed over time, and what we can learn from earlier models to apply on today’s instruments, this is for you!
To book your place on one of these tours book on via their website https://www.forsyths.co.uk/content/476-chethams-pianoworkshop-tours or speak with a member of Forsyth’s staff at their pop-up shop in Chetham’s Oglesby Atrium, at their city-centre store, by phone on 0161 834 3281 (option. 3).
Opening Times
Forsyth Brothers Limited, 126 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2GR
Opening Times: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5.30pm; Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Forsyth’s pop-up shop at Chetham’s Oglesby Atrium is also open:
August 8 – 17th 9.45am – until at least 5.30pm (closing time advertised each day) and August 18th 9 – 11am

Junior Course Final Concert
2024-08-13 09:00 - 11:00 | Oglesby Atrium
All the young pianists on both junior courses have the opportunity to perform on the final morning, and receive a certificate of participation.
Family and friends will be welcome to come and listen.

Sarah Beth Briggs Recital
2024-08-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
…an exceptionally gifted musician The Guardian
Pianist Sarah Beth Briggs – an artist of extraordinary magnetism (Michael Kennedy, Daily Telegraph) – is a leading recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician.Her professional career was launched at the age of eleven when she became the then youngest-ever finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year and a recipient of a Dame Myra Hess Award. Four years later she gained international recognition as joint winner of the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg. Sarah is a celebrated artist at societies and festivals throughout the UK, acclaimed by promoters and critics for her performances and for her engaging and informative introductions to recital programmes.
Haydn Variations in F minor, Hob XVII/6
Schubert Impromptu in B flat, D935 No. 3
Chopin Berceuse, op 57
Mendelssohn Variations Sérieuses, op 54

Participant recitals
2024-08-12 17:00 - 18:00
An opportunity for participants to perform on the outstanding grand pianos in all of the halls and performance spaces. Observers warmly welcomed.
