About

Welcome to the Summer School for Pianists!

9th – 15th August 2025

Stowe School, Buckingham, MK18 5EH

President: Wendy Wyatt

Artistic Directors: Karl Lutchmayer, Christine Stevenson

Guest tutors: Graham Fitch, Jill Morton, Daniel Hill

Guest lecturer – Paul Harris

For 45 years, this Summer School has established a unique place amongst an ever-growing number of summer schools being held each year throughout the British Isles.

In what way is this Summer School so special?

It combines an atmosphere of friendliness with musical expertise, creating a most positive and rewarding week. People of a very wide range of pianistic levels can meet and enjoy all that’s good about music-making, without any unhealthy competitiveness or feelings of inadequacy. Participants return year after year to this keenly anticipated annual event. The incomparable splendour of Stowe House set in 250 acres of gardens landscaped by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, the excellent facilities of the All Steinway music department of Stowe School, a warm welcome, studies with leading experts, recitals by tutors and students, good food, ensuite accommodation and a final gala dinner in the State Music Room, make this course both memorable and inspiring.

As 2025 is an important anniversary year for both Erik Satie and Maurice Ravel, our optional theme is ‘Ravel and Satie -The Dandies of Music’. But repertoire choice is not confined to the theme – do feel free to investigate the breadth and depth of the piano repertoire.

Reflecting our theme, and as a project hopefully involving many course members, we’ll aim to perform Satie’s Vexations. Staff recitals will feature Ravel’s Valses nobles et sentimentales, Jeux d’eau, Gaspard de la Nuit and Moussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, which Ravel orchestrated. Amongst other works will be pieces by Helen Hopekirk, Geraldine Mucha and Jennifer Margaret Barker, Schumann’s Kreisleriana and Schubert’s song-cycle Winterreise, songs from which will be the focus of the Accompanists’ Class overseen by Jill Morton

In the 2024 course, the tutor presentations, Piano Matters, were especially praised for making the course even more attractive for performing participants and for observers as well.  Piano Matters topics for 2025 will include Graham Fitch showing us ‘Top tips for Technology in Practice’, Karl Lutchmayer speaking about Satie, Daniel Hill introducing us to Schumann, and Guest Lecturer and international educationalist, Paul Harris, giving us a presentation helping to Improve Your Sight-reading.

There are eight thirty-minute solo recital opportunities – Platforms – available for a modest charge, and four student concerts for solo or duet items.

And there will be time to explore the grounds, play a round of golf on the 9-hole golf course (green fees apply), have a game of tennis (please bring your own racquets and tennis balls) or, for an additional fee, enjoy a guided tour of Stowe House.

As usual, each participant will be allotted three half-hour slots in their masterclasses during the week. All are welcome to visit other classes to observe. Private lessons can be booked with each of the tutors for an additional fee. Those applying for a place on the summer school must be at least 18 years of age.