World-class adjudicators, teaching artists, and clinicians provide participants of all ages and educators with powerful and uplifting learning experiences designed to build creative skills.
Virtual festival includes comprehensive learning activities (some with live components and some on demand), creativity challenges, and support for developing creativity. In-person festival includes live workshops, group coaching sessions, concerts, and face-to-face interaction with teaching artists. Optional private coaching sessions are available for an additional fee.  Complete schedule available in February.
Virtual participants submit up to 15 minutes of video records for online comments from teaching artists. In-person participants perform up to a 15 minute program live for a panel of teaching artists. All participants are recognized with one special individually tailored award certificate. Teaching artists provide extensive feedback individualized and help participants develop creative skills.
Learning activities include creative challenges and skill-building exercises that encourage participant connection and social constructivist learning.
Participants also have the option to submit a written composition for feedback from a composition teaching artist.
Every year we feature a comprehensive and experiential array of offerings that help participants with building creative skills, examining and interpreting historical works, discovering and appreciating new music, and developing practice strategies and new ways of thinking like an artist.  Additional offerings can include educator seminars and forums, concerts and recitals, technology showcases, and wellness sessions. 
2022 Virtual Festival Begins Soon!

Online Access from
October 2021 - December 2022

Enrollment available now with a deadline of April, 30th 2022 to participate in the 2022 Virtual Festival

Enroll early to get extended access to the OpenLearning platform! 
Visit the festival information homepage for complete details, eligibility, schedules from previous years, adjudicator and clinician bios, alumni spotlights, and more!
Donate today to support the Festival for Creative Pianists!

Your gift helps transform the creativity of learners at the piano.
Donations of any size help tremendously - from small donations to corporate sponsorships. 
 Check out these additional ways to contribute including ongoing sponsorships and becoming a masthead donor. 

Festival leadership:
  • Evelyn Billberg (Program Director - email)
  • Arthur Houle (Founder/Artistic Director - email)
  • Luke Rackers (Executive Director, Abundant Silence - email)

Andrew Vargas, Former Festival Participant

"When first I attended the Festival for Creative Pianists, I did not realize what a major impetus it would provide in my growth as a musician. The festival’s emphasis on creativity, improvisation, and composition is a focus all too often missing in today’s musical education. Interacting with the wonderful faculty of this festival rounded me out as a musician, inspired me tremendously, and provided me with tools and perspectives I still use today."
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Contestants - 2018 Festival for Creative Pianists
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Contestants - 2017 Festival for Creative Pianists

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​(archives since 2001)