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Rollins Piano Academy

Experience the Rollins Piano Academy

Feb. 12–14, 2027 · For pre-college pianists in grades 9–12

Spend a weekend living like a pianist at Rollins.

Spend an inspiring weekend immersed in performance, artistry, and musical discovery. The Rollins Piano Academy brings together dedicated young pianists, distinguished guest artists, and Rollins faculty for three days of masterclasses, seminars, performances, and conversation.

Academy participants will have opportunities to learn from accomplished artists, explore new ways of listening and thinking about music, connect with fellow young musicians, and experience the musical community at Rollins. From the stage to the classroom—and from the practice room to conversations about building a life in music—the Academy is designed to challenge, inspire, and broaden the way young pianists see themselves as musicians.

What to Expect

Work with distinguished guest artists and Rollins faculty, perform and learn alongside other dedicated young pianists, and explore musicianship beyond the practice room. The weekend combines performance, artistic exploration, and an inside look at life as a pianist at Rollins.

  • Masterclasses

  • Artist Seminars

  • Concerto Competition

  • Piano Lab

  • Artist Conversations

  • Performances

Weekend schedule

  • Friday: Celebrate

    Opening Concert

    7:30 p.m.: 2025 Rollins Piano Academy Concerto Competition winner in concert with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Orchestra. Presented as part of the Oratorio Competition Concert.

  • Saturday: Perform

    Masterclass • Seminar • Rollins experience • Concerto competition

    • 9:30–11 a.m.: Welcome and masterclass with Byeol Kim
    • 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.: Seminar 1: Special topic by guest artist(s)
    • 12:15–1:15 p.m.: Academy lunch
    • 1:15–1:45 p.m.: “Experience Rollins” campus tour with current students
    • 2–5 p.m.: Rollins Piano Academy Concerto Competition
    • 5–5:30 p.m.: Award ceremony and photos

  • Sunday: Discover

    Guest artist masterclass • Life at Rollins • Seminar • Artist conversation • Piano lab • Guest artist recital

    • 9:30–11 a.m.: Guest artist masterclass
    • 11:15–11:45 a.m.: “Piano at Rollins”: Student life, auditions, and opportunities, with Rollins faculty and current piano students
    • Noon–1 p.m.: Academy lunch
    • 1:15–2:30 p.m.: Seminar 2: Class with Daniel Crozier
    • 2:45–3:30 p.m.: Artist conversation: Building a life in music, with the guest artist, Byeol Kim, and Daniel Crozier
    • 3:45–4:45 p.m.: Seminar 3: The Piano Lab music challenge
    • 5 p.m.: Guest artist recital

    Public access: Most Academy events are open to the public. Seminar 2 and Seminar 3 are reserved for registered Academy participants.

Concerto Competition

Rollins Piano Academy Concerto Competition

Perform. Compete. Take the stage with an orchestra.

A centerpiece of the weekend is the Rollins Piano Academy Concerto Competition, open exclusively to registered Academy participants. Outstanding young pianists will perform for the Academy’s guest artist jury and compete for the opportunity to return the following season to perform their winning concerto with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Orchestra.

The competition winner will also receive the Walter Chambury Scholarship upon admission to and enrollment at Rollins College.

Competition entry fee: $50, in addition to the $75 Academy registration fee

Competition guidelines

  • Eligibility: All competitors must be registered Rollins Piano Academy participants.
  • Repertoire: Prepare one complete movement of a piano concerto or a complete single-movement work for piano and orchestra from the Baroque, Classical, or early Romantic repertoire, or a work of comparable instrumentation. The complete work or movement may not exceed 15 minutes. All repertoire is subject to approval by the Academy.
  • Memorization: All competition repertoire must be performed from memory.
  • Accompaniment: All competitors must perform with a collaborative pianist and are responsible for arranging their own. Include your collaborative pianist’s name on the application form. A list of local collaborative pianists is available upon request.
  • Jury: The competition will be adjudicated by the special guest artist(s) of the Rollins Piano Academy.
  • Winner’s orchestral performance: The winner will perform the winning concerto with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Orchestra during the following season.
  • Walter Chambury Scholarship: Upon admission to and enrollment at Rollins College, the competition winner will receive the Walter Chambury Scholarship, a tuition scholarship.

Hear From Our Past Winners

Professional headshot of a academy student Yoyo Qu.

Yo-Yo Qu

“Last summer, I spent an incredibly fun week at the Rollins Summer Music Academy that was full of energy, where I met many amazing young musicians. We enjoyed lessons from incredible professors, engaging masterclasses, and the best ribeye steaks in the state of Florida.

The Academy awarded me a precious opportunity to perform with a live orchestra in February 2026 with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park. This will be my first time playing with an orchestra, something I’ve wanted to do for years.”

Piano academy student Lilah Hahn sits next to a piano.

Lilah Hahn

“I learned a lot at the Summer Piano Academy and really loved it. The teachers were amazing, and Dr. Kim’s love for music made the classes exciting and made me want to learn more. This camp was different from other summer camps I’ve been to because we didn’t only have piano, but also music history, theory, and other fun classes. I liked trying classes I had never done before. My favorite part was the concerto competition because it was exciting and a great experience for students like me.

I am very excited to perform with the Bach Festival Society Orchestra. My favorite way to play music is with other musicians, and I especially love playing with orchestras. I’m really grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to share the beautiful music of Mozart with the audience.”

Registration and Application

Eligibility: The Rollins Piano Academy is open to pre-college pianists currently in grades 9–12.

Application and registration deadline: Jan. 1, 2027

All Academy registrations, masterclass submissions, and Concerto Competition applications must be received by Jan. 1, 2027. Late applications will not be accepted. Selected masterclass performers will be notified by email by Jan. 15, 2027.

Registration
Academy registration
Fee
$75
Academy and Concerto Competition registration
Fee
$125

Masterclass Performer Consideration

Important: Concerto Competition applicants are not eligible for masterclass performer consideration.

Registered Academy participants may apply to perform in one of the Academy masterclasses. Performers will be selected based on submitted video recordings, repertoire, and available space. Selected performers will be notified by email by Jan. 15, 2027.