Early Morning Warm Ups with Murray
2026-08-19 08:15 - 08:30 (Europe/London) | 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.

Drop in practice workshop
2026-08-19 08:45 - 09:30 | G06
Come along for help with any aspect of playing from a member of the summer school faculty.

Junior Piano Group Class
2026-08-19 08:45 - 09:30 | Oglesby Atrium
Young participants on the Junior Course meet up for the daily classes in movement, aural and rhythmic development. Fun guaranteed!

Teaching session 1
2026-08-19 08:45 - 11:00
As all members of the faculty teach throughout the school, don’t miss the opportunity to listen to the amazing lessons.

Alexander Technique Group and Individual Classes
2026-08-19 08:45 - 17:00 | Gym
The final day for Alexander Technique lessons with the inspirational James Crow.
The main principles of the Alexander technique are:
“how you move, sit and stand affects how well you function”
“the relationship of the head, neck and spine is fundamental to your ability to function optimally”
“becoming more mindful of the way you go about your daily activities is necessary to make changes and gain benefit”
“the mind and body work together intimately as one, each constantly influencing the other”
Book early to avoid disappointment.

https://pianosummerschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Alexander-delights-from-young-pianist.mp4

Stoller Hall professional film recording
2026-08-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Stoller Hall
An amazing opportunity to make 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.
A greatly reduced price, negotiated for the summer school, has been arranged – not to be missed. Please tick the choice on the application form. Spaces limited.

Junior Course 'drop in' practice workshop
2026-08-19 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
2026-08-19 10:15 - 11:00 | G06
New for 2026 a daily class focusing on scales and exercises.
Join a daily workshop where scales and exercises become exciting tools for progress, unlocking speed, strength, and expressive freedom. Learn how to make exercises out of your repertoire and to always find new ways to practise.
Drop in for 5 minutes or come for the whole class – everyone welcome!

Adult Amateur Workshop
2026-08-19 11:30 - 13:00 | G06
The daily group workshop, today hosted by Philip Fowke! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to perform on the beautiful grand piano in front of your new piano family.

Teaching session 2
2026-08-19 11:30 - 13:00
Alongside your own lessons, make the most of our ‘open door’ approach—wander into workshops, hear fellow pianists, and enjoy the vibrant community spirit of the summer school.

Paul Lewis

Lunchtime Recital
2026-08-19 13:45 - 14:30 | Stoller Hall
The daily lunchtime recital in the Stoller Hall.
Details of the recital will be announced shortly

The Art of Four Hands workshop
2026-08-19 14:45 - 15:30 | G06
New for 2026!
A new daily workshop dedicated to the art of piano duo playing – both duets and 2 pianos.
Diabelli, Mozart, Schubert, Grieg, Dvorak, Brahms, Ravel, Debussy, Faure, Rachmaninov – so many composers wrote a huge amount for both piano duet and 2 pianos. These new workshops are a chance to come along with a prepared duo, or simply to enjoy sightreading through some of this amazing repertoire.
There will be something for everyone – do bring your own music to share with us and have fun exploring the box of music too.
Kathryn Stott and Matthew McLachlan

Teaching session 3
2026-08-19 14:45 - 17:00
The final session for individual lessons. Teachers on all courses will be working throughout the school. Participants are warmly encouraged to take full advantage of the summer school’s ‘open door’ policy

Junior Course 'drop in' performance class
2026-08-19 15:30 - 16:15 | G06
A great opportunity to play on a beautiful grand piano in front of a small, friendly audience.

'Drop in' performance class
2026-08-19 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.

Lecture - From Stress to Strength - with Mookie Lee-Menuhin
2026-08-19 17:15 - 18:00 | Stoller Hall
In today’s high-pressure world, many of us — musicians and non-musicians alike — live in a constant state of survival mode: stretched thin, always “on,” and striving to stay in control while feeling increasingly depleted.
With soaring levels of stress and burnout worldwide — and with musicians facing significantly higher rates of mental ill-health than the general population due to performance pressure, job insecurity, physical strain and a demanding culture that still clings to the myth of innate, immutable talent — this talk explores how we can move from stress to strength, from merely surviving to truly living.
Drawing on neuroscience and life on stage, concert pianist and cognitive neuroscientist Mookie Lee-Menuhin offers a different perspective. She discusses how awareness, connection, and meaning can shift our physiology, build resilience, and transform our relationship with ourselves and others even under stress and pressure. Backed with simple, science-based tools, she invites us to rethink stress and reimagine what is possible: not by avoiding difficulty, but by meeting it with presence and purpose.
Award‐winning pianist Mookie Lee‐Menuhin has performed worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician, touring major music halls and festivals throughout Europe, Scandinavia and Asia.

In addition to her musical pursuits, Ms. Lee-Menuhin is a cognitive neuroscientist. Her fascination and passion for knowledge of the intricacies of the brain and human behaviour earned her a master’s degree with distinction in applied neuroscience from King’s College London. Her unique path as a concert pianist and neuroscientist raised curiosity in the field of science and beyond, being featured in an interview by Women in Science and Technology at CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) as well as in her presentation for Korean female leaders at the SungJoo Foundation.

Joanna MacGregor Recital
2026-08-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
‘MacGregor seems incapable of giving performances that are not at once extremely intelligent and entertaining’.
The Sunday Times
‘She is one of the most exciting and enterprising pianists of the moment.’
The Observer
‘Joanna MacGregor’s career is practically built on a reinvention of the star virtuoso
tradition… MacGregor’s verve, energy and astounding technique are always at the
service of the music.’
BBC Classical Review
We are thrilled to welcome back Joanna to Stoller Hall. Free to all summer school participants- public tickets available from the Stoller Hall.

Piers Lane Recital
2026-08-19 20:30 - 21:30 | Stoller Hall
“No praise could be high enough for Piers Lane whose playing throughout is of a superb musical intelligence, sensitivity, and scintillating brilliance.” Bryce Morrison, Gramophone
We are thrilled that Piers is available to join us again at Chetham’s for a solo recital and teaching on the faculty.
Five times soloist at the BBC Proms, Piers Lane’s wide-ranging concerto repertoire exceeds one hundred works and has led to engagements with many of the world’s great orchestras, working recently with conductors like Sir Andrew Davis, Vassily Sinaisky, Gerard Schwartz and Brett Dean. Festival appearances have included Aldeburgh, Bard, Bath Mostly Mozart, Bergen, Cheltenham, Como Autumn Music, Prague Spring, Rockport, La Roque d’Anthéron, Ruhr Klavierfestival, Schloss vor Husum, Seattle and the Chopin festivals in Warsaw, Duszniki-Zdrój, Mallorca and Paris.

Late Night Participant recitals
2026-08-19 22:00 - 23:00
Late night recital opportunities in all of the recital halls throughout the school. All participants 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.

Baronial Hall

Late Night Jazz Room
2026-08-19 22:00 - 23:30 | G04
Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy late -night jazz- either listening or playing yourself.
Enjoy a drink and soak up the atmosphere.

Early Morning Warm Ups with Murray
2026-08-20 08:15 - 08:30 | Oglesby Atrium
Flagging with mid-course fatigue? No problem: Wake up early and join Murray for a refreshing warm up 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.

Drop in practice workshop
2026-08-20 08:45 - 09:30 | G06
Start the day with a helpful workshop for everyone who needs a little support with practising.
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.

Junior Piano Group Class
2026-08-20 08:45 - 09:30 | Oglesby Atrium
Join your friends for a group workshop session – singing, movement, listening and much more to start your day with renewed energy.

Dalcroze Group Classes
2026-08-20 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
2026-08-20 08:45 - 11:00
The day begins with all members of the faculty teaching throughout the school. Everyone will receive a daily lesson as standard.

Stoller Hall Professional Film Recording
2026-08-20 09:00 - 12:00
Outstanding acoustics, a pristine Model D Steinway – tuned and ready to play, together with a cutting‑edge recording company combine to deliver the ultimate experience.
With the renowned Mill Media in the award winning Stoller Hall. Please book early as spaces are limited.

Junior Course 'drop in' practice workshop
2026-08-20 09:30 - 10:15 | G06
A great way to set up the day with tips on every aspect of piano practising from a member of the faculty. Drop in for 5 minutes or the whole workshop and learn from listening to everyone. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity!

Scales and exercises 'drop in' workshop
2026-08-20 10:15 - 11:00 | G06
Join a daily workshop where scales and exercises become exciting tools for progress, unlocking speed, strength, and expressive freedom. Learn how to make exercises out of your repertoire and to always find new ways to practise.
Drop in for 5 minutes or come for the whole class – everyone welcome!

Adult Amateur Workshop
2026-08-20 11:30 - 13:00 | G06
A chance for adult amateur pianists to perform in a relaxed, encouraging environment with Kathryn Page. Whether you share a single phrase or a complete piece, you’ll find support in overcoming nerves.

Teaching session 2
2026-08-20 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!
