A unique program of intensive piano study designed for middle and high school students who are serious about piano playing. Set on the beautiful campus of Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina, PIPF offers a focused environment for concentrated study; a family-like atmosphere with a lot of individual attention; mentorship and lessons from the highest caliber faculty; master classes and recitals by world-renowned guest pianists; and the opportunity to perform on the beautiful concert Steinway in Memorial Hall at Erskine College as well as a field trip to Greenville, South Carolina to tour the Sigal Music Museum.
• Artist Faculty and Director: Dr. Amy Gustafson
• Assistant Teachers: Stephen Lee, Chungho Lee, Hyeseon Jin
• Guest Artist Faculty: Spencer Myer, Angela Cheng
• Guest Artist Recitals
• 5 private lessons
• Chamber Music Coaching (Piano four hands)
• Daily group exercise
• Supervised daily practice
• Miniature courses on music theory, critical listening, practice methods, piano literature, and other topics
• 1 Field trips to Greenville, SC or other surrounding areas of interest
• Student recital at Memorial Hall at Erskine College
• Outreach recital
Tuition
Total $3250 - includes shared room and all meals for two weeks; five one-hour private lessons; two performance opportunities; master class performance opportunities; one-on-one practice coaching; chamber music coaching; entrance to all concerts, lectures and courses; and field trips
Breakdown of Tuition Fee:
Tuition: $2400
Room and Board: $850
Scholarships
90% of all accepted students receive some kind of scholarship assistance. Significant scholarships will be awarded based on merit and need. If you would like to be considered for one of these scholarships, please include a letter with your application explaining why you should be considered.
Applicant Eligibility
Middle and high-school students, ages 11 to 17 (or 18 if student has not attended college), who are studying the piano seriously. Enrollment is limited to twenty-four highly qualified applicants.
Application/Recording Due Date
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: Apply by March 15, 2025 to receive a $100 tuition discount
FINAL DEADLINE: April 15, 2025. For more information, please contact us at: palmettopianofestival@gmail.com.
• Age 11 - 17 (or 18 if student has not yet attended college).
• Application & Application Fee
•Recording or live Zoom audition (by request)
Recording
The recording must include at least two (2) contrasting works, representing the best of applicant's level and artistry. The total length of recording should be between 10 and 25 minutes. Pieces can, but do not have to be, the same pieces for the festival. Pieces must be performed by memory.
Repertoire Suggestions
At least two contrasting pieces and one etude must be ready to play at performance level for the festival. In addition, participants are encouraged to bring extra pieces that are works in progress. Any questions about repertoire should be directed to Dr. Gustafson at palmettopianofestival@gmail.com. All selections for performance must be memorized. Works in progress can be memorized, but it is not required.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, July 06, 2025Registration Begins Memorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaFor Participants and Parents of Participants only. view map
Sunday, July 06, 2025Opening Dinner for ParticipantsMoffatt Dining HallDue West, South Carolina view map
Sunday, July 06, 2025Orientation and Registration MeetingMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaFor Participants Only. view map
Monday, July 07, 2025Opening Faculty RecitalMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaPerformers Hyeseon Jin, Chungho Lee, Stephen Joven-Lee, and Amy E. Gustafson.All Chopin Recital. view map
Wednesday, July 09, 2025Spencer Myer, pianistMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaTBD view map
Friday, July 11, 2025Angela Cheng, pianistMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaTBD view map
Friday, July 18, 2025Final Showcase RecitalMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaFree and open to the Public, but must reserve tickets ahead of time. view map
Past Events
Friday, July 19, 2024Final Showcase RecitalMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina
Thursday, July 18, 2024Virtual PresentationMemorial HallDue West, South Carlolina
Monday, July 15, 2024Master Class by Pavlo GintovMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina
Sunday, July 14, 2024Recital by Pavlo GintovMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina
Wednesday, July 10, 2024Master Class by Jose Ramon MendezMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina
Tuesday, July 09, 2024Recital by Jose Ramon MendezMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina
Tuesday, July 09, 2024Master Class by Beatrice LongMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina
Monday, July 08, 2024Faculty Recital featuring Faculty and Assistant FacultyMemorial HallDue West, South Carolina
Sunday, July 07, 2024Registration MeetingMemorial HallDue West, South CarolinaFor festival participants only.
Sunday, July 07, 2024Opening Dinner for ParticipantsMoffatt Dining HallDue West, South Carolina
Sunday, July 07, 2024Check in and Registration begins!Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina
Saturday, July 15, 2023Checkout and Departure from FestivalErskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639For festival participants only.
Friday, July 14, 2023Final Showcase Recital by Festival ParticipantsMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639TBD
Thursday, July 13, 2023Outreach ConcertRenaissance Senior Assisted Living FacilityDue West, SCFestival participants perform for residents in the Parkinson Lobby.
Thursday, July 13, 2023Virtual PresentationVirtual presentation by Jihea Hong-ParkYoung and Powerful: Aspiring Pianists of This Generation
Wednesday, July 12, 2023Masterclass by Alexandria LeMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639TBD
Tuesday, July 11, 2023Recital of Piano Music by Alexandria LeMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639TBD
Sunday, July 09, 2023Master Class by Jose Ramon MendezMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639
Saturday, July 08, 2023Recital of Piano Music by Jose Ramon MendezMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639All Chopin.
Friday, July 07, 2023Master Class by Sean DugganMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639TBD
Thursday, July 06, 2023Recital of Piano Music by Sean Duggan, pianistMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC, 29639The Art of the Fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach
Monday, July 03, 2023Faculty Recital of Piano MusicMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639
Sunday, July 02, 2023Registration and Orientation MeetingMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639For Festival participants only.
Sunday, July 02, 2023First Dinner for Festival ParticipantsMoffatt Dining Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639
Sunday, July 02, 2023Check-in and Registration Begins!Memorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639From 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 16, 2022Final Festival Gala RecitalMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina 29639Festival participants will perform works by Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, among other composers.more info...
Friday, July 15, 2022Masterclass by Jose Ramon Mendez
Thursday, July 14, 2022Recital of piano music by Jose Ramon MendezMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina 29639Works by Granados, Franck, Szymanowski, Chopin, and Haydnmore info...
Wednesday, July 13, 2022Masterclass by Matthew Manwarren
Monday, July 11, 2022Masterclass by Roberto Plano
Sunday, July 10, 2022Recital of piano music by Roberto PlanoMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina 29639THIS CONCERT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS.more info...
Friday, July 08, 2022Workshop by Artina McCain
Thursday, July 07, 2022Lecture Recital by Artina McCainMemorial Hall at Erskine CollegeDue West, SC 29639TBAmore info...
Thursday, July 07, 2022Master Class by Sun-A Park
Wednesday, July 06, 2022Recital by Joonghun Cho and Sheena HuiMemorial Hall, Erskine College
Wednesday, July 06, 2022Masterclass by Amy Gustafson
Tuesday, July 05, 2022Dinner and Orientation for Festival Participants
Tuesday, July 05, 2022Registration Starts at 3:00 p.m.!
Friday, July 16, 2021Final RecitalMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaFree and open to the public, but tickets must be reserved. Limited to 50 audience members due to COVID-19 protocols. All audience members must wear masks.
Thursday, July 15, 2021Master Class by Paul NitschMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina
Wednesday, July 14, 2021Recital of Piano Music by Jose Ramon MendezMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaTicket reservation required. Limited to 50 audience members due to COVID-19 protocols. All audience members must wear masks.more info...
Tuesday, July 13, 2021Master Class by Jose Ramon MendezMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaTBA
Saturday, July 10, 2021Master Class by Xun PanMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, South Carolina
Friday, July 09, 2021Recital of Piano Music by Xun PanMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaTicket reservation required. Limited to 50 audience members due to COVID-19 protocols. All audience members must wear masks.All Beethoven program
Thursday, July 08, 2021Master Class by Logan SkeltonMemorial HallDue West, South Carolina
Wednesday, July 07, 2021Recital of Piano Music by Logan SkeltonMemorial Hall, Erskine CollegeDue West, South CarolinaTicket reservation required. Limited to 50 audience members due to COVID-19 protocols. All audience members must wear masks.
Tuesday, July 06, 2021Recital by Xiting Yang and Joonghun Cho, pianistsMemorial Hall, Erskine College and SeminaryFree and open to the public, but tickets must be reserved. Limited to 50 audience members due to COVID-19 protocols. All audience members must wear masks.TBA
Monday, July 05, 2021Registration and Orientation MeetingMemorial Hall at Erskine College
Why should I apply for Palmetto International Piano Festival instead of any other of a number of excellent festivals available?
The environment of high expectations coupled with the encouraging, family-like atmosphere, is unique to the Palmetto International Piano Festival. Many other festivals are either too "lax" in their approach or, the opposite, have too much of a competitive feel to them. The small size of the festival allows for a lot of individual attention for each participant, and the guest artists work closely with each student, unlike larger festivals where only a select few get to interact with invited guests. The opportunity for all participants to perform three or more times is also unique to PIPF. We do not have a competitive element in this festival. All participants are, in essence, part of the same family for two weeks, pursuing excellence in piano playing together.
What will a typical day be like at PIPF?
The day will begin with group exercise and/or meditation. A family-style breakfast will follow. There are two practice sessions, one morning practice session and one afternoon session, so each day, participants will have 4 to 6 hours to practice. In addition, each day there will be a special event, such as a master class, a miniature course, or an outing. The evenings will consist of attending guest artist recitals, or other special events, such as performance classes or group and social activities.
What airport should I fly into?
The closest airport is Greenville-Spartanburg airport or GSP. Festival participants who fly into this airport will be offered transportation to the college.
We are driving to this festival. How do we get to Erskine College?
How to get to Due West from Atlanta (2.5 hours)
Follow I-85 North into South Carolina
Take Exit 11 in SC (Hwy. 24 Anderson/Townville)
Follow Hwy 24 for 12 miles to Anderson
Right on Bypass 28 at Burger King
Right at fifth light onto Hwy 28
Go four miles, take left fork onto Hwy. 185
Follow Hwy. 185 for 16 miles to Due West
How to get to Due West from Columbia (1 hour from I-26)
Follow I-26 West out of Columbia
Take Exit 54, left on Hwy. 72 for 27 miles to Coronaca
Turn right at light onto Hwy. 246
Follow Hwy. 246 for 10 miles to Hodges
246 will merge with Hwy. 178
In Donalds, turn left at flashing light onto Hwy. 184
Follow Hwy. 184 for four miles to Due West
How to get to Due West from Greenville/Spartanburg/Charlotte (45 minutes from Greenville)
Follow I-85 to Exit 46 in Greenville
Follow Hwy. 25 South, turn right on Hwy. 76
Follow Hwy. 76 seven miles to Honea Path
Left at first light onto Hwy. 178
Five miles to Donalds, turn right at flashing light
Follow Hwy. 184 four miles to Due West
How can I find the music building where the festival will be held?
Please refer to the campus map, downloadable here:
