Each summer the Southeastern Piano Festival transforms Columbia, S.C. into a major cultural destination that draws audiences and exceptional young artists from across the US. The Southeastern Piano Festival embraces a multi-faceted personality: it’s a high-level training platform for rising pianists, a presenter of world-renowned concert pianists, an advocate for new piano music and a vehicle for exploring different roles the piano plays on stage and beyond.

Taking place June 18-24, 2017, the festival celebrates 15 years of excellence with the “Piano Extravaganza” gala. Featuring 15 pianists, five pianos, and an award-winning Miami-based choir in Carmina Burana, this showcase has become a signature event beloved by adults and kids alike. The week continues with concerts by international artists and culminates in the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition with $9,000 in cash prizes.

Guest artists include a Billboard-chart topping piano duo Anderson and Roe, gold medalist of the XIV Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Vadim Kholodenko, “maverick pianist” (The New York Times) Frederic Chiu, and a chair of the piano department at the Peabody Conservatory Boris Slutsky. The festival will also present some of our own brightest alumni including Chaeyoung Park, Anna Han, Maria Parrini, Susan Zhang and Zachary Hughes.