Charles Owen Recital
2025-08-21 19:00 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Stoller Hall
Charles Owen enjoys an extensive international career performing a wide-ranging repertoire to outstanding critical acclaim. He appears at major UK venues such as Bridgewater Hall, The Sage, Wigmore Hall & Kings Place. Internationally, he has performed at the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York, the Brahms Saal in Vienna’s Musikverein, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Melbourne Recital Centre. His chamber music partners include Alina Ibragimova, Johan Dalene, Imogen Cooper, Steven Isserlis and Augustin Hadelich. Ensemble collaborations encompass the Carducci, Heath, Sacconi and Takács string quartets.
A regular guest at UK festivals such as Aldeburgh, Bath, Cheltenham, Three Choirs and Ryedale he has also performed in Australia at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Townsville and the Verbier Festival, Switzerland. Charles’s concerto appearances have included the Philharmonia, Hallé, Aurora and London Philharmonic orchestras. He has enjoyed collaborations with many leading conductors including Sir Mark Elder, Ryan Wigglesworth, Nicholas Collon and Martyn Brabbins.
Charles’s significant solo discography comprises piano music by JS Bach, Brahms, Fauré, Liszt, Janáček, Poulenc & Schumann. Chamber music albums include two-piano works by Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky & Poulenc with Katya Apekisheva, a disc of Janáček, Suk & Dvorak with violinist Augustin Hadelich and the world premiere recordings of the Piano Quintet & ´Between Friendsˋ by Jonathan Dove.
Together with pianist Katya Apekisheva he is Co-Artistic Director of London Piano Festival, a celebration of the instrument held annually at Kings Place since 2016. The festival presents many distinguished pianists whilst also commissioning outstanding composers to write music for two pianos. Sally Beamish, Nico Muhly, Elena Langer & Stephen Hough have all composed for the ongoing series.
Charles Owen is a Professor of Piano at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and enjoys leading masterclasses at a wide range of conservatoires and schools. In 2016 he was appointed Steinway & Sons UK Ambassador and is also an ambassador for the charity Help Musicians.
Liszt Deux légendes
Chaminade Sérénade Espagnole, Op 150
Chaminade Guitare, Op 32
De Falla Fantasia Baetica
Ravel Le tombeau de Couperin

Late Night Participant recitals
2025-08-21 22:00 - 23:00
A wonderful opportunity to listen to fellow participants performing recitals around the school.

Baronial Hall

Late Night Jazz Room
2025-08-21 22:00 - 23:30 | G04
The last night for this years late night jazz room!
A wonderful opportunity for participants to play some jazz and improvisation in this lovely informal space on a superb grand piano kindly donated by Forsyth Music Shop.
Listen with a drink, or enjoy playing to fellow participants.

Junior Piano Group Class
2025-08-22 08:45 - 09:30 | Oglesby Atrium
The final morning class for Kodaly, singing and movement on part two.

Teaching session 1
2025-08-22 08:45 - 11:00
The final day for individual participant lessons – a wonderful opportunity to listen to lessons on all courses throughout the day.

Noriko Ogawa

Junior Foundation 'drop in' practise workshop
2025-08-22 09:30 - 10:15 | G06
The final ‘drop -in’ class on part two 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. If you haven’t made it to the class yet do come in for some helpful tips.

Junior Advanced 'drop in' practise workshop
2025-08-22 10:15 - 11:00 | G06
The final ‘drop -in’ class for all Junior Advanced pianists. Don’t miss this chance to get helpful advice on any aspect of piano playing.

Adult Amateur Workshop
2025-08-22 11:30 - 13:00 | G06
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to play to friends in todays group workshop, the final one for 2025, with the support and encouragement of Marta Karbownicka. Tomorrow morning the room is reserved for the adult amateur course to have a final informal performance.

Teaching session 2
2025-08-22 11:30 - 13:00
The final day for lessons on part two. The faculty are teaching throughout the school on all courses including composition, aural, jazz, improvisation, organ, musical analysis, and much more!

Junior Foundation 'drop in' performance class
2025-08-22 14:45 - 15:30 | G06
The final ‘drop-in’ performance class for the Foundation Junior Course. Come along and perform on a beautiful piano with a supportive audience.

Teaching session 3
2025-08-22 14:45 - 17:00
The third teaching session of the day. Make the most of the opportunity to listen and observe from some of the world’s leading teachers.

Boris Berman

Junior Advanced 'drop in' performance class
2025-08-22 15:30 - 16:15 | G06
The final performance class on Part Two. Don’t miss this opportunity to perform in front of friends on the Advanced Junior Course. Pop in anytime you are free.

'Drop in' performance class
2025-08-22 16:15 - 17:00 | G06
The final opportunity on part two to perform in this informal setting, to an audience of supportive participants.

Participant recitals
2025-08-22 17:00 - 18:00
Pianists have the opportunity to perform on one of the concert grand pianos in the recital rooms. Steinway, Schimmel, Bösendorfer, Yamaha and Bechstein are some of the models available.
Make sure to sign up when applying online.

Craig Sheppard Recital
2025-08-22 20:30 - 21:30 | Stoller Hall
We welcome back world famous American virtuoso pianist-teacher Craig Sheppard to give a long awaited recital.
“Listen to his concluding octaves in Rigoletto (for him a burst of thunderous applause) or the final pages of Tannhuser and you will witness an astounding force and charisma, playing which rides on a knife edge between abandon and control .. You won’t easily find more exciting or, indeed, more leonine Liszt playing. Small wonder that at one stage he was acclaimed as a second William Kapell ”
Gramophone Magazine
A wonderful all French programme to end the series of recitals this year.
FAURÉ
Nocturne No. 6 in D-Flat Major Op. 63
RAVEL Miroirs
Noctuelles
Oiseaux tristes
Une barque sur l’océan
Alborada del gracioso
La vallée des cloches
DEBUSSY Estampes
Pagodes
La soirée dans Grenade
Jardins sous la pluie

Stoller Hall Professional Film Recording
2025-08-23 08:30 - 13:00
The final day for making a professional film recording with Mill Media in the award winning Stoller Hall. Stunning acoustics, a fabulous Model D Steinway is tuned and ready for you to play and top of the range recording equipment provide the perfect conditions.

CIPSS Part 1 Registration
2026-08-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Oglesby Atrium
Please arrive in plenty of time to settle in before the opening recital at 17.00 in Stoller Hall.
If you are a participant on the Junior Piano or Adult Amateur courses, there are welcome meetings at 3.30pm. Do try and arrive in plenty of time to come along to the meeting.
If you cannot arrive in time for the registration please email info@pianosummerschool.com to confirm your expected arrival time.

Welcome meeting for Junior Piano Course
2026-08-12 15:30 - 16:30 | Carole Nash Hall
A chance to meet other young pianists on the course with course director and Head of Keyboard, Murray McLachlan. We look forward to getting to know you all over the course and hearing you play.

Welcome for Adult Amateur Course
2026-08-12 15:30 - 16:30 | G06
Come and say hello to other Adult Amateur pianists on the course and to meet Kathryn Page who will answer any questions you may have about the week. You will meet many pianists who are attending for the very first time as well as many ‘regular’ participants. We look forward to getting to know you all during the course, and of course to hearing you play.

Welcome for Piano Teacher Course
2026-08-12 15:30 - 16:30 | Waterhouse
Come and meet course leader Dr Nellie Seng, Associate Dean & Programme Lead (Master of Performance), School of Music – Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
Join the other participants on the course to find out about the exciting plans for the schedule and to get to know each other a little before the opening recital at 5pm.

Opening Recital - Martin Roscoe
2026-08-12 17:00 - 18:00 | Stoller Hall
…Roscoe is a pianist who both thinks and offers full-blooded playing of breadth and depth. In this country, he is an uncommon creature…Daily Telegraph
With an extraordinary career spanning over four decades, Martin Roscoe is unarguably one of the UK’s best loved pianists. Renowned for his versatility at the keyboard, Martin is equally at home in concerto, recital and chamber performances. In an ever more distinguished career, his enduring popularity and the respect in which he is universally held are built on a deeply thoughtful musicianship allied to an easy rapport with audiences and fellow musicians alike.
Schumann Kinderszenen Op.15
Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
FREE for summer school participants. General public tickets available here Stoller Hall

25 for 25 - a Jubilee Celebration - part one
2026-08-12 19:30 - 21:00 | Stoller Hall
A quarter-century of music-making is a milestone worth celebrating and this year’s course will be a jubilant tribute to the countless artists who have shared their talents, energy, and spirit across the years.
This special celebratory concert will be full of surprise and innovation – more details will be revealed over the coming months.

From the moment participants arrive, they will be welcomed not only with warm smiles but also with a very special gift, one that will last a lifetime and beyond.
It promises to be an occasion filled with reflection, gratitude, and the exhilarating sense of being part of something enduring and extraordinary.

Welcome reception and late night jazz with Jason Rebello
2026-08-12 21:45 | Oglesby Atrium
Come along to the Atrium bar for a complimentary drink and meet everyone in our 25th year celebrations! Discover why we really are ‘the friendliest piano summer school’!
We are thrilled to announce that Jason Rebello will be performing in the ‘Jazz Room’ – an intimate performance for participants. The Jazz Room will be available every night around 10.30 ’til late for participants to enjoy playing and listening to impromptu jazz. Not to be missed!

Early Morning Warm Ups with Murray
2026-08-13 08:15 - 08:30 | Oglesby Atrium
Start your day off with these 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.

Drop in practice workshop
2026-08-13 08:45 - 09:30 | G06
Everyone welcome – come along with a bar, a chord, or any part of a piece that you would like some advice on from a member of the faculty. Tips on fingering, pedaling, phrasing, articulation, voicing etc.
Workshops for Junior pianists are scheduled after this class every day.

Junior Piano Group Class
2026-08-13 08:45 - 09:30 | Oglesby Atrium
The morning group class for all pianists enrolled on the Junior Course. Inspiration and camaraderie as you learn together, in a supportive and friendly group.

Dalcroze Group Classes
2026-08-13 08:45 - 10:15 | Gym
Discover how to use the body as a tool for musical perception, preparation, and performance.
Experience a liberating and joyful approach to music that will transform your creativity. Dalcroze provides a powerful route to musical expression – and it is also a lot of fun!
We welcome back Alison Wise to take the classes in dalcroze. Please tick the box on the application form to reserve a place in the class.

Teaching session 1
2026-08-13 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 Course 'drop in' practice workshop
2026-08-13 09:30 - 10:15 | G06
Come along with a bar, or a small section for lots of advice and help to take you into your practice room. Stay for 5 minutes or the whole class – so much can be discovered by listening to everyone.

Scales and exercises 'drop in' workshop
2026-08-13 10:15 - 11:00 | G06
New for 2026 a daily class focusing on scales and exercises. These drop in classes are suitable for all levels of pianists.
Discover how daily scale practice unlocks ease and speed, while technical exercises strengthen your playing from the ground up.
