ABUNDANT SILENCE
Menu

Festival Information HOMEPAGE

All participants, all ages, are recognized with one special, individually tailored award certificate.
​

​Workshops, masterclasses, live performances, private coaching sessions, and online learning activities are available to all participants and teachers and provide enriching opportunities to grow artistically and develop interpretive and/or creative skills!

Learn more about judges & clinicians
Check out these Alumni Spotlights
Review Awards to Plan Your Program
See Complete Eligibility Info
Schedules from Previous Years*
* ​The complete detailed 2021 schedule of events
​will be available in early 2021.
Picture
June 4-13, 2021
​First ever virtual festival!
Please visit again in the coming months for updated details. Applications are open!
Pianists of All Ages Enroll Here
​​-  Three age categories:
  • Budding Pianists (12 & under)*
  • Teen Pianists (13-19)*
  • Lifelong Learners (20+)*
​          * As of 6/4/21
​
  • All participants are highly encouraged to submit an optional written composition for feedback and to engage in all online learning activities.
  • Teachers of students in the festival will automatically be enrolled in the Lifelong Learner category for free!
This one-of-a-kind festival encompasses classical, jazz and other musical idioms, along with improvisation and composition, in a social constructivist educational setting. 

Judges bestow one special, individually-tailored award certificate to each participant to spotlight that person's finest achievement.  We are 100% focused on constructive feedback, musical growth, and learning opportunities. 

Our uniquely diverse award "menu" celebrates standard baroque through contemporary repertory as well as neglected, yet important, skills -- e.g., improvisations (any style), original concerto cadenzas & classical embellishing (demonstrated by most of history's greatest composers yet seldom seen today), versatility (needed to thrive in today's competitive market), lyricism (usually overshadowed by "loud and fast" playing), original compositions (too few venues exist for young serious composers), works by female composers (underrepresented elsewhere), and tasteful arrangements & transcriptions (often disallowed in other 
events).
We seek to foster diverse and well-rounded musicianship that goes beyond the "autonomic wizardry" that is often overemphasized in other competitions. Above all, pianists and composers are urged to develop and showcase their unique creative talents and perform with individuality, personality, exuberance, originality and spontaneity.



  
• 2021 Enrollment limit: at the discretion of the directors


​• Educational opportunities
(details & schedule to come)





RESOURCES FROM RECENT FESTIVALS

Educational handout for teachers & students:
  • Classical improvising, embellishing, cadenzas, and lead-ins

Workshop handouts (2018):
  • Wynn-Anne Rossi - Creative Toolbox
  • Evelyn Billberg - Notation Software

Workshops (2017):
  • Kevin Olson – Creating Awesome Arrangements (handout) 
  • Wynn-Anne Rossi – Seeds of Musical Imagination (handout)
  • John Salmon – Arranging Jazz Standards (publication)

Workshop videos:
  • John Salmon – Know Your Chord Progressions 
  • Luke Gillespie – Applying Classical Textures to Jazz
  • Kevin Olson – Improvisation: A Classical Tradition
​Since 2015, we have proudly introduced a new Written Composition category (scroll 1/2 way down page) wherein our world-class judges perform the best student "finalist" compositions in recital (YouTube: 2016 & 2017). Young composers get to sit back and listen to their pieces being interpreted by top-notch professionals in recital.

  • The 2019 judges were:​
John Salmon, Kevin Olson & Wynn-Anne Rossi.
   (The 2020 festival was canceled due to Covid-19.)

UNIQUE ECLECTIC PROGRAM


Eligibility:

​Open to all ages in 2021!


​Requirements:

Budding Pianists (age 12 & under):

  • Perform up to 10 minutes — any style, solo piano or duet as specified
  • Optional but highly recommended: Written Composition category (no additional fee)​

Teen Pianists (age 13-19):

  • Perform up to 15 minutes — any style, solo piano or duet as specified
  • Optional but highly recommended: Written Composition category (no additional fee)​​

Lifelong Learners (age 20+):
​
  • Perform up to 10 minutes — any style, solo piano or duet as specified
  • Optional but highly recommended: Written Composition category (no additional fee)

Meet Our Festival Leadership Team

Our leadership team is dedicated to providing unique, creative learning experiences and programming for piano students of all ages, teachers, lifelong learners and the general public.

LUKE RACKERS

Picture

Executive Director
​Email Luke

EVELYN BILLBERG

Picture

Program Director
Email Evelyn

ARTHUR HOULE

Picture

Founder & Artistic Director
​Email Arthur

Are you interested in participating in the 2021 Festival for Creative Pianists
​but still have questions? 


• Email Evelyn Billberg at ev.billberg@gmail.com or call 303-629-9209

Donate Today to Help Support This Amazing Festival!

Your gift helps transform the creativity of young learners. Donations of any size help - from small donations to corporate sponsorships.

We would especially welcome a "masthead" donor (see bottom of this page).

Many thanks to Classic Pianos of Denver, MakeMusic, & Canvas Credit Union, and all of our other generous sponsors!
Show Your Support With A Gift of Any Size

Check Out These Fun Festival Highlights From Previous Years


  • 2019 Videos
  • 2018 Houle & Rossi duo performance - mp3 (Suite by Richard Rodney Bennett - 6/18/18 program)
  • 2017 Videos
  • 2016 Videos
  • 2015 Testimonial by Leila Viss, noted piano teacher
  • 2014 Testimonial by Aura Strohschein, festival clinician
  • Dueling pianos (2011 festival)
  • Festival alum success story: Jonathan Keith - '03, '04, & '08 prizewinner
  • More alumni spotlights
  • More YouTube videos
  • Archive pages (since 2001 -- pictures, results, videos, etc.) 

Selections from the 2016 Thursday & Friday evening recitals (June 9 & 10, 2016):
  • Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 in D Minor by Felix Mendelssohn - John Salmon, piano
  • Chopin Improvisations by Luke Gillespie
  • Impressions on Color by Kevin Olson
  • Spontaneous Improvisation on a Random Theme from the Audience by John Salmon
  • Fughetta on 'Brother, Can You Spare a Dime' by John Salmon, piano (Arthur Houle, 2nd piano)
  • Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma - Luke Gillespie and John Salmon, pianists
  • Side Saddle Sonatina by Greta Thoreson (Written Composition Finalist) - John Salmon, piano
  • What They Say in Space (Dissassociative) by Maria Ali (Written Composition Finalist) - Kevin Olson, piano

From the festival archives - 2011: Buckaroo Blues* by Arthur Houle
   *Selected by the
National Federation of Music Clubs (2016-2020 Bulletin: one of 14 "Moderately Difficult Class 2" pieces)  

 
2019 Festival for Creative Pianists locations
(We hope to return to an in-person format in 2022!)

• Classic Pianos
1332 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80210

All events except Wed. evening concert

• Schmitt Music
685 S Braodway, Denver, CO 80209
Wed. evening concert - Inaugural Festival Alumni Celebration Recital

Picture
Picture
Classic Pianos stage pianos
Picture

Praise for the Festival

  • The late great DAVE BRUBECK wrote (letter, dated 6/12/02, to Arthur Houle, artistic director & festival founder): "What you are attempting to do in your festival is most laudable, especially in eliminating as much as possible the 'winner take all' dynamic, and encouraging improvisation in both jazz and classical music."

  • The festival has been cited on NPR's Performance Today, various newspapers, and in music periodicals such as American Music Teacher, Clavier Companion, Piano & Keyboard, Piano Today, and the London-based Piano magazine. It was also profiled in a feature article in the April 2003 issue of Clavier magazine. Articles also appeared in the Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University) Fall 2010 Newsletter and the March 2009 issue of Grand Valley Magazine. Last but not least, the festival was endorsed by the International Piano Teachers Guild "for providing an excellent competition for the piano community."
Feedback Since 2001 (Highlights)
Feedback from 2017 Festival


PROBLEM WITH WEB SITE? CONTACT WEBMASTER

Member Login

More information

FAQs
​Public Documents
Privacy Policy
Careers
News & Publicity
​Membership Agreement
Contact Us

Mailing address for donations:

Abundant Silence
P.O. Box 1254
​Montpelier, VT 05601

    Contact Us today for ordering & submission info!

Submit
© Copyright 2021 Abundant Silence, a 501c3 non-profit new music organization - www.abundantsilence.org
Abundant Silence does not guarantee or warranty any information contained on this website.  
  • Home
  • Store
    • Sheet Music >
      • Performance Series
      • Ensemble Series
      • Art Song Series
      • The Art of Play
      • Choral Music
      • Transcriptions & Arrangements
    • Recordings
    • Books
    • Posters
  • Festival for Creative Pianists
    • Information Homepage
    • Festival Donation
    • Judges and Clinicians
    • Eligibility & Info
    • Awards
    • Schedule of Events
    • Enroll Here
    • Alumni Spotlight
  • Composer Programs
    • New Music Commissioning
    • Composition Lessons Online
    • Quick Start Composition Ideas >
      • Ideas Using Numbers - Martha Hill Duncan
      • Ideas Using Themes - Tatev Amiryan
    • Composition Contest
    • New Music Uncaged Concerts
    • Featured Composition Artists
    • Featured Composition Educator
  • Licensing
  • About
    • Get Involved
    • Contact
    • Partner Ensembles
    • Mission, Vision, Values, & Goals
    • Meet Our Team >
      • Luke Rackers - Executive Director
      • Arthur Houle - Artistic Director
      • Evelyn Billberg - Program Director
    • Our Sponsors
    • Listen & Watch
  • The Creators
  • Donate
  • Home
  • Store
    • Sheet Music >
      • Performance Series
      • Ensemble Series
      • Art Song Series
      • The Art of Play
      • Choral Music
      • Transcriptions & Arrangements
    • Recordings
    • Books
    • Posters
  • Festival for Creative Pianists
    • Information Homepage
    • Festival Donation
    • Judges and Clinicians
    • Eligibility & Info
    • Awards
    • Schedule of Events
    • Enroll Here
    • Alumni Spotlight
  • Composer Programs
    • New Music Commissioning
    • Composition Lessons Online
    • Quick Start Composition Ideas >
      • Ideas Using Numbers - Martha Hill Duncan
      • Ideas Using Themes - Tatev Amiryan
    • Composition Contest
    • New Music Uncaged Concerts
    • Featured Composition Artists
    • Featured Composition Educator
  • Licensing
  • About
    • Get Involved
    • Contact
    • Partner Ensembles
    • Mission, Vision, Values, & Goals
    • Meet Our Team >
      • Luke Rackers - Executive Director
      • Arthur Houle - Artistic Director
      • Evelyn Billberg - Program Director
    • Our Sponsors
    • Listen & Watch
  • The Creators
  • Donate