Amateurs

Concerto Concert with the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra
Sunday, June 26 at 5:00 pm in the Van Cliburn Concert Hall, TCU

PianoTexas International Festival & Academy is first and foremost an educational program. It is one of the few programs in the world that offers Amateurs an experience of performing with an orchestra. With the advent of more competitions that include a concerto performance in their finals, PianoTexas presents an educational opportunity for those who aspire to reach their competition goals.

To select the performers, a Concerto Competition with a second piano is organized.  Rehearsals with the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra is scheduled for Thursday, June 23 and Saturday, June 25 with the performance on Sunday, June 26 all in the wonderful new Van Cliburn Concert Hall, TCU. Each performer is limited to play either one or two movements of a concerto provided that the total duration including orchestral tutti does not exceed 18 minutes.

In providing this wonderful opportunity, we hope to encourage the performers of the Amateurs Program to participate in the concerto competition. Repertoire must be selected from the list below:  

• Bach: Keyboard Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052
• Mozart: All Concertos 
• Beethoven: All Concertos 
• Mendelssohn: Concertos No. 1
• Chopin: Concertos Nos. 1 and 2
• Schumann: Concerto in A minor
• Grieg: Concerto in A minor
• Saint-Saëns: Concertos No. 2
• Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1
• Brahms: Concertos No. 1
• Rachmaninoff: Concertos Nos. 2 and 3
• Prokofiev: Concertos No. 3

All performers of the Amateurs Program are required to participate in the recitals presented by the PianoTexas International Festival & Academy. These lunchtime and evening recitals take place in the superb acoustics of PepsiCo Recital Hall on the TCU campus. Although at the moment not confirmed, there might be a possibility to perform in the new Van Cliburn Concert Hall.  

All performances are open to the public and are recorded and streamed over the Internet. Performances will be also available as part of the Media Package prepared by the staff of PianoTexas for the benefit of the participants.

Repertoire submitted for PianoTexas may be used for both master classes and recitals. It is necessary to control the length of all recital programs and we request the cooperation of each performer to limit his/her selected repertoire to twelve (12) minutes per performance.

Performing from memory is not obligatory.

The Executive Director is responsible for all programs, selecting both performers and repertoire, and his decision is final. 

Performers of the Amateurs Program are assigned to one Master Class with a distinguished Guest Artist. This format is an excellent means of communicating and sharing beneficial ideas and insights amongst fellow participants.

The concerto repertoire maybe included, however if used for the concerto competition it will not be selected for your Master Class prior the competition.

Memorization is optional.

The Master Classes are open to the public and are recorded and streamed through the Internet. Performances will be also available as part of the Media Package prepared by the staff of PianoTexas for the benefit of the participants.

The Executive Director is responsible for the allocation of Teacher Performers to the Master Classes and his decision is final.

Performers of the Amateurs Program will receive two private lessons (each of 50 minutes) with different Guest Artists. These lessons provide opportunities for in-depth examination and discussion of musical and technical matters, so although the choice is free, the repertoire should be carefully considered.

The Executive Director is responsible for the allocation of all private lessons and his decisions are final.

Additional private lessons are possible, at extra cost, depending on the availability of the Guest Artists. The scheduling and fees should be discussed directly between the Guest Artist and the participant.

PianoTexas warmly welcomes Amateurs who prefer to perform less often publicly but wish, as Active Observers, to enhance pianistic skills through experiencing the methods and ideas of renowned Guest Artists. The program presents a great opportunity to hear the concerto and solo concerts presented by PianoTexas, to observe the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, as well as to attend numerous discussion sessions, “Conversations with Guest Artists” and symposia presented by the Cliburn Competition.

Active observers receive two private lessons and on the recommendation of a Guest Artist or the Executive Director, a performance opportunity on a recital may be offered.

The Executive Director is responsible for allocating and scheduling Active Observers’ lessons, and his decisions are final.

PianoTexas also warmly invites all music lovers to register as General Observers in the Amateurs Program, which provides access to the entire range events listed on the PianoTexas calendar.

Additional private lessons are possible at extra cost, depending on the availability of Guest Artists. The scheduling and fees should be discussed and arranged directly between the Guest Artist and the Active/General Observer.

For many years, PianoTexas has maintained excellent collaboration with the major piano companies and together with the excellent pianos of the TCU’s School of Music, our concert halls and practice rooms have superb instruments.

The performers of the Amateurs Program practice on grand pianos on arranged schedules. Active and General Observers have access to practice rooms upon availability.

All practice rooms are available 24 hours a day. 

The Sixth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1981 was the creative impulse for PianoTexas. Every four years a new generation of pianists benefited from attending this great Competition, learning, understanding and finding inspiration to move towards their goals.

In 2022, again The Cliburn is offering discount ticket packages for PianoTexas participants.
The Preliminaries and Quarterfinals will be in the new Van Cliburn Concert Hall on the campus of TCU. PianoTexas will offer not only discounted tickets to the Competition, but also programs created for the Teachers, room and board and transportation.

Information on the Competition schedule and obtaining tickets for PianoTexas participants will be announced and displayed here.

Scheduled practice time are arranged for each performer with practice rooms equipped with grand pianos.

Active observers are most welcome to use practice facilities when not occupied by performers. There are also a number of practice rooms with upright pianos, open and free for everyone to practice. All practice rooms are open 24 hours a day.

PianoTexas will present “Discussion Sessions” based on the results of the Cliburn Competition. These are wonderful opportunities for participants to engage in the unpredictable world of competitions. The selection of repertoire, sound production, stage presence and the so many more factors that results in the selection of competitors who move on are considered.

“Conversations” are light-hearted affairs, in which PianoTexas’ vastly experienced Guest Artists share valuable information along with entertaining stories and anecdotes of a life in music. These highly popular, informal question-and-answer sessions provide excellent opportunities for constructive interactive dialogues on such important topics as the music profession, careers, recording, performing, practicing, competitions and understanding of styles.

“Symposia” presented by the Cliburn Competition provide valuable information and insights into the classical music. These popular sessions provide excellent platform for everyone to exchange ideas, in particular on the subject of competitions in an informal setting.

Application Fee:

Performers: $120

Active or General Observers: $85

Program Fee: 

Will be available by December 16, 2022

Media Package (optional):$125

Accommodation and Meals: 

As soon as information is available, we will share it in this space.