Pianofest Resumes After Pausing During The Pandemic

Pianofest is an intimate summer piano intensive that has been offered on the East End for more than 30 years. The program features piano students from around the world who come to study in East Hampton.

But in summer 2020, the program went on hiatus due to the pandemic and in 2021, with international travel still uncertain, Pianofest alumni living in the U.S. were invited back to perform. Now, after being on pause for two years, Pianofest and its talented students have returned to the East End this summer.

The eight student pianists taking part this year are able to stay in East Hampton for the three weeks’ long session, and the Pianofest house features 11 grand pianos so multiple students can practice at once. All of the Pianofest students are enrolled in colleges or conservatories where they study the instrument.

Director Paul Schenly noted that Pianofest is unique because it focuses on bonding through music instead of competition. The festival lets students focus on creating friendships and growing together in a life that is usually considered very solitary.

“I try to stress an atmosphere that is not competitive,” said Schenly. “That is a very strange idea to some pianists because there are a lot of competitions in life. But here after a few days they understand what we are trying to do.

“It’s helping each other rather than competing with each other,” he added.

Because of lingering concerns with the pandemic, the program has reduced its enrollment due to housing issues, and this year has limited recruitment to students from the U.S. in order to avoid travel conflicts and changing rules on international travel.

Students like Caroline Owen, from Atlanta, Georgia, have been waiting for this summer program since she originally applied in 2020. In that time, she has completed a doctorate program in piano at Florida State University, graduating this past May.

“After looking it up online, I could tell it was a special place. I was disappointed when it didn’t happen the first time,” said Owen. “I feel really grateful to be here. I feel grateful to be surrounded by really talented bodies.”

Konstatin Soukhovetski is the artist-in-residence at the Pianofest house. Soukhovetski is originally from Moscow and has been playing at Pianofest since he attended as a student himself in 2000.

Soukhovetski called the Pianofest house a second home. He is glad to see the house full of students and music once again and described 2021 as “the summer that never was,” adding that this summer is “like waking from a long nightmare.”

Being in the same room is important and many of the students chose to watch each other practice in order to pick up technique and learn the differences in how they all play.

Students are grateful for the opportunities presented by the program, which allows them all to focus on playing piano as opposed to collegiate studies which often require classes in other areas.

“I felt really welcomed here,” said Jimmy Cheung, who is originally from Hong Kong, but now studies at the University of Cincinnati. “During term time we all go to different schools where we not only have to do piano but also a lot of different classes. Here, these weeks are really a very focused study on the piano itself.”

The program also allows students to develop new skills and techniques through lessons.

“Being in school sometimes you can really get stuck in a rut of having to do things a certain way, so I think through my lessons so far I have been reminded of how free you can be physically and musically,” Owen said.

The next Pianofest concert will be at Avram Theater at Stony Brook Southampton on July 11 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 at the door, cash only. For more information, visit pianofest.com/concerts.

Pianofest 2022 Schedule:
Avram Theater, 239 Montauk Highway, Southampton

Monday, July 11, at 5 p.m.
Monday, July 18, at 5 p.m.
Monday, July 25, at 5 p.m.
Monday, August 1, at 5 p.m.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 18 James Lane, East Hampton

Wednesday, July 20, at 6 p.m.