About

Welcome to the Summer School for Pianists!

10th – 16th August 2024

Stowe School, Buckingham, MK18 5EH

President: Wendy Wyatt

Artistic Directors: Karl Lutchmayer, Christine Stevenson

Guest tutors: Graham Fitch, Jill Morton, Daniel Hill

For over 40 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.

In the 2023 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 2024 will include Graham Fitch speaking on ‘Effective Practice Processes’ as well as doing a ‘Walk-through’ of a piece, highlighting its background, form, structure, practice processes and interpretative choices.
Daniel Hill  will introduce us to ‘Composers under Stalin’s Shadow’ while Christine Stevenson will be exploring the theme of ‘Chopin and Liszt – the Patriot and the Pilgrim’.
Marking the centenary of the passing of Ferruccio Busoni, Karl Lutchmayer will speak on this remarkable Italian pianist and composer: ‘Busoni: the Reluctant Revolutionary.’

 An Accompanists’ class is being planned, overseen by Jill Morton.

2024 Staff Recitals will include solo works by a variety of composers as well as collaborative works; included to date will be solo music by Byrd, Chopin, Liszt, Busoni, Prokofiev and William Bolcom as well as a selection of songs by Fauré, marking the centenary of this composer’s passing, performed by our resident baritone Brian White with Graham Fitch, while Graham will join Jill Morton in works for piano duet.

Having enjoyed the music inspired by ‘Forgotten Melodies’ in 2023, in 2024, as a non-obligatory option, participants are invited to explore music with the theme: ‘The Shock of the New’. But repertoire choice is not confined to the theme – do feel free to investigate the breadth and depth of the piano repertoire.

There are seven 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.