International Festival & Summer School PIANO WEEK is proud to announce an exciting addition to its much-loved list of rural residencies, combining the charm of the English countryside in Oxfordshire with our friendly and relaxing summer school, open to pianists of any age and ability. Housed on the campus of Tudor Hall School nestled between rolling fields near Banbury, residential participants will benefit from a holistic programme of one-to-one and duet lessons, master classes, general musicianship seminars and multiple performance opportunities to name but a few, whilst enjoying a morning swim on site or a peaceful walk to the local farm shop. Running in conjunction with the summer school, the festival will offer high-calibre performances given by the in-house team of concert pianists and an appearance by world-renowned guest artist Leslie Howard. Other UK residencies in July 2022 include London (Dulwich College) and Rugby (Rugby 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 Banbury, we welcome applications for:

Residential Intensive courseResidential Standard courseResidential Lite course

Those attending PIANO WEEK Banbury will be able to choose between our lite, standard or intensive course options, with the latter boasting an additional five one-to-one piano lessons on top of the 24 hours of tuition, performances and advice offered to all participants over the six-day period. They will enjoy single or twin study bedrooms (both with bathroom facilities close by) located in the new 6th Form building with access to the common room, kitchen and WiFi as well as daily swimming sessions on site. All meals will be provided and any dietary needs catered for. On residential courses, children under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by their parent/guardian (at an additional cost).

Banbury can be reached in just over an hour by direct train from London Marylebone station. The school is a 10-minue taxi ride from Banbury station. Motorway links provide easy access to Birmingham Airport (50 minutes by car), London Luton (80 minutes by car) and London Heathrow International Airport (1.5 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.