Summer Music Festival: Piano Arts Intensive
June 21 - July 12, 2025
Piano
Summer
Pianists at AFA’s Summer Music Festival have the unique opportunity to learn and progress as soloists and to work with peer musicians in chamber music, studio classes, and more, including music theory and elective classes, all led by expert Teaching Artists. The Piano Arts Intensive is 3 weeks long and enrolls up to 10 pianists. Highlights include participation in chamber music with peers from the strings department, in-depth studio classes focusing on solo work, and ample guided practice sessions; select students will also have the chance to perform with the AFA Symphony Orchestra. This session is the perfect opportunity for young musicians who are looking for a musically challenging and enriching experience that allows them to spend each day immersed in music. Applicants to this session are also invited to enter the annual AFA Concerto Competition (see below for information).
Did you know? AFA offers tuition assistance for students who may not be able to afford the full amount; learn more here. Additional tuition discounts will be available for returning students and early bird applications.
District Transportation Partnerships:
Through partnership with AFA, select school district Fine Arts departments in the area will provide bus transportation between a central location in their respective districts and AFA for students enrolled in their districts. Check back here for updates about 2025 partnerships.
Applications for the 2025 Summer Music Festival will open February 1st; subscribe to our email list to be reminded! Click Here for details about the application process.
Concerto Competition
The 28th Annual AFA Concerto Competition is open to students who will attend the Orchestra & Chamber Music Intensive or Piano Arts Intensive session of the 2025 AFA Summer Music Festival.
One winner will be chosen after a preliminary and a final round.
The 2025 Grand Prize Winner will perform their chosen piece in concert with the AFA Symphony Orchestra on July 12th, 2025 and will be awarded a cash prize of $750.00.
Eligibility
• Applicants must complete the AFA Summer Music Festival application and audition process, be offered admission into their applicable session and confirm their intent to attend the 2025 Summer Music Festival by April 18, 2025.
• Applicants interested in competing must complete the AFA Concerto Competition Entry Form by April 18th through the AFA Dashboard.
• Applicants must be available to compete in the preliminary round in person on Saturday, May 3rd at Garza Studios. A schedule will be set once the application has closed.
• Applicants must be available to compete in the Final round (should they advance) on Saturday, May 17th at Garza Studios
• Previous Grand Prize winners are not eligible to compete
Repertoire
• The competition piece should be one movement of a concerto or a single movement work for solo instrument and orchestra
• The orchestral accompaniment to the concerto must be appropriate for an advanced youth orchestra, and score and parts must be readily available for rental or purchase by AFA
• Performances in both preliminary and final rounds must be memorized
• Soloists will perform unaccompanied in the preliminary round and accompanied by piano for the final round
Repertoire will be screened as competition applications are received; Questions or concerns about repertoire choices should be directed to Amanda Heathco at AFA.
Final Round
• All preliminary round competitors will be notified if they have advanced to the Final round by Monday, May 5th.
• Final round competitors may perform accompanied by a pianist of their choosing; if a Finalist does not have access to an accompanist, AFA will assist in securing one for rehearsal and performance (the competitor is responsible for their payment and for providing the piano score)
• The Final round will be held in person on Saturday, May 17th and will be recorded and possibly livestreamed
8:30 am - 4:30 pm (M-F, plus June 21)
Performances: July 10 (chamber music, evening); July 12 (solo, mid-day)
Closed July 4