International Festival & Summer School PIANO WEEK returns to Rugby School, for the third time in the summer of 2022 after a two-year pause caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and widespread disruption to international travel. Headed by British concert pianist Samantha Ward (founder and artistic director) and Polish concert pianist Maciej Raginia (creative director), the summer school is based at the modern and brilliantly equipped music department, offering residential and non-residential participants an opportunity to study with a distinguished faculty of concert artists, pedagogues and educators in the most stimulating environment. The festival’s high-calibre performances, including a recital by world-renowned Leslie Howard, will be held in the stunning Memorial Chapel and will accompany the course, which is open to pianists of any age and ability. Other UK residencies in July 2022 include London (Dulwich College) and Banbury (Tudor Hall School).

In response to the growing crisis currently unfolding in Ukraine, PIANO WEEK will donate £100 for every participant attending this year’s summer school to United Help Ukraine, a charity providing medical supplies and humanitarian aid and raising awareness of the conflict.

In Rugby, we welcome applications for:

Residential Intensive courseResidential Standard courseResidential Lite course
Non-residential Intensive courseNon-residential Standard courseNon-residential Lite course

Those attending PIANO WEEK Rugby will be able to choose between our lite, standard or intensive course options, with the latter one boasting an additional five one-to-one piano lessons over the six-day period. Residential participants will enjoy modern single and twin bedrooms (both with separate bathrooms), cosy common rooms with TV and WiFi access and a few kitchenettes which are located on campus. All meals will be provided and dietary requirements catered for. On residential courses, children under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by their parent/guardian (at an additional cost).

Rugby is situated on the West Coast line from London Euston railway station (50 – 90 minutes by train, 2 hours by car). The school is a 5-minute taxi ride from Rugby station. Motorway links provide easy access to Birmingham Airport (40 minutes by car), East Midlands Airport (50 minutes by car), Luton Airport (70 minutes by car) and London Heathrow International Airport (1.5 – 2 hours by car). Airport transfers can be organised at an additional cost.

All participants will benefit from:

• Master classes
• One-to-one & duet lessons
• Jazz improvisation
• Harmony, pedalling, fingering and memorisation classes (adults)
• Composition classes (with a chance to perform their own composition)
• Seminars on how to practise
• Sight reading classes
• Listening and theory classes (children)
• Talks on stage presentation & history of the piano
• Informal concerts and discussion forums
• Multiple performance opportunities
• Free entry to all faculty & guest artist recitals

In addition, those enrolled on one of the summer school’s programmes will be entitled to exclusive offers from the festival’s partners. Thanks to the special relationship between PIANO WEEK and leading household names such as Steinway & Sons, G Henle Verlag and Schott Music, participants will be able to enjoy anything from a 20% discount on Schott Music publications and vouchers and app credits for the Henle Urtext Library, to a unique referral programme with Steinway & Sons.