For 39 years and counting, the IU Summer Piano Academy has offered serious young pianists, between the ages 12-19, opportunities to grow musically, learn from world-class master teachers and nurturing faculty, and develop lifelong friendships. During this 2-week in-person intensive on the beautiful campus at Indiana University Bloomington, our participants enjoy:
Multiple private lessons each week
Performance opportunities
Masterclasses with world-renowned pianists
Duet coaching
Access to many faculty and guest artist concerts
Group classes
Classes on theory, analysis, and performance topics
Optional Feldenkrais class
2026 Academy Faculty
Elizabeth Yao is director of the Young Pianists Program and the Summer Piano Academy, as well as coordinator of the secondary piano program and instructor of pedagogy at the IU Jacobs School of Music. She received her Doctor of Music degree at Indiana University under the tutelage of André Watts.
Melinda Baird has served on the Piano Academy faculty since 2015, as counselor supervisor/consultant, instructor of piano and most recently as co-director. Dr. Baird is Director of Piano Programs and teacher of piano and chamber music at the Levine School of Music (Washington DC).
Tony Weinstein holds degrees from Oberlin College and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He teaches and serves on the accompanying staff at DePauw University. He is co-director of the Jacobs School of Music Summer Piano Academy, where he has been on the faculty for ten years.
Dr. Karen Tayloris the Founder/Director emerita of the IU Young Pianists Program and the Summer Piano Academy. She has given recitals in the U.S. and Europe, and has presented 125+ master classes, lectures and workshops. Her teaching honors include an IMTA Teacher of the Year citation and numerous grants for study abroad.
Matt Gianforte has served on the Piano Academy faculty since 2004, teaching piano as well as coordinating and teaching duet classes. He is currently Associate Professor of Music at Murray State University (KY), and has performed across the U.S. and abroad as a soloist, duo pianist, and collaborator.
Caroline Hong, Professor of Piano at Ohio State and artistic director of the Franz Liszt (U.S.) International Piano Festival, received her training from Peabody, Juilliard and the Jacobs School. Hailed for her “expressive and powerful playing” and “formidable technique”, she enjoys a flourishing international career as a soloist, master teacher, and competition jury member.
Pianist Kyunghoon Kim, D.M., is Visiting Lecturer of Music in the Collaborative Piano department at IU. He is also a Signature Artist on Musicnotes.com, composing under the name Piano Sandbox
Ruth Morrow, DM, is the current Bolin Distinguished Chair of Piano at Midwestern StateUniversity in Wichita Falls, TX, where she teaches all things piano plus world music. With degrees in piano performance, pedagogy, musicology and philosophy, she enjoys digging deeply into music’s nuances, running, and her polydactyl cats.
Lauded for “superb playing” and “poised, alert musicianship” by the Boston Globe, American pianist Spencer Myer is one of the most respected and sought-after artists on today’s concert stage. Myer is a Steinway Artist, and Associate Professor of Piano at the Jacobs School of Music.
Meeyoun Park has taught on the faculty of the Piano Academy since 2017. A highly sought-after collaborator, duo pianist, and soloist, she has been a guest at festivals, artist series and universities across the country and abroad. Dr. Park currently serves as Associate Professor of Music at Murray State University (KY).
Daniel Schene is a founding faculty member of the Piano Academy. A frequent solo and collaborative pianist, he is known for his innovative programming and passionate advocacy of composers of our time, many of whose works he has recorded. Mr. Schene is Professor Emeritus at Webster University (St. Louis).
Gregory Sioles was most recently adjunct associate professor of music in piano at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Previously he taught at Louisiana State University and the University of Maryland. Sioles has performed extensively in North and Central America, Europe, and Asia and was a Fulbright Scholar in London. He records for Centaur.
2026 Guest Artists
Additional faculty and master class guests for 2026 TBA.
$100 non-refundable enrollment deposit due at registration (credited towards tuition).
Do not select a tuition or housing option until you have received notification of acceptance.
Double-room Housing (optional, includes meals):
2026 rates coming in late 2025
The posted rates cover housing from check-in on Saturday, June 27 to check-out on Saturday July 11. Single room accommodations and additional nights may be purchased for an additional fee.
*Included in the cost of housing is a Linen Package (including pillowcase, top and bottom sheet, two washcloths and towels; blankets and pillows available upon request)
Commuter Meal Plan (optional, for participants not living in the dorms)
2026 rates coming in late 2025
Deadlines
Application and Audition Due: March 2, 2026
Financial Aid Application Due: March 2, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: March 13, 2026
Notification of Financial Aid: March 13, 2026
Confirm Acceptance: March 20, 2026
Full Payment Due for Accepted Participants: April 1, 2026
Participant Forms Due: June 1, 2026
Financial Aid
Those looking to apply for need-based financial aid should indicate their intent to do so on their program registration form.
The family must complete theFinancial Aid application and submit the required supporting documents to the Jacobs Academy Office via a provided secure upload link.
The Jacobs Academy Coordinator will contact you if further supporting documentation is needed for the committee review.
*Please be aware that late applications for financial aid will not be accepted.
Financial Aid Application Deadline: March 2, 2026
Audition Requirements
List of repertoire studied over the last 2-years. Indicate which pieces have been memorized or performed in recital
*Two pieces of contrasting character. Provide links to unedited recordings; YouTube preferred. (Note: the audition portal requires a file upload; please paste your YouTube links into a Word document or other text file and upload that file to the portal.)
Letter of recommendation from student’s principal piano teacher
ATTN: If you attended the Piano Academy in 2025, the directors may be willing to waive your audition recording requirement; please contact the Directors to inquire about this. Please note that updated recordings are required if the student is applying for merit scholarship.
How to Apply
REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER 2026 WILL OPEN IN DECEMBER 2025
Students are encouraged to apply early. Applicants who need an early decision due to an invitation from another program should contact Dr. Elizabeth Yao, director at elizyao@iu.edu. An early acceptance from the Piano Academy is usually possible if admission is certain.
Eligibility: Accepting serious pianists, ages 12-19. Exceptionally advanced students younger than 12-years may be admitted by special permission of the director.
Registration:Complete the online registration form and pay only the Non-Refundable Registration Fee - $100.
Your audition will not be reviewed if the registration fee is not paid.
Do not pay tuition until you have received your letter of acceptance.
Save your login information so you can easily go back to edit your registration/tuition payment upon acceptance.
If openings exist, the deadline may be extended for qualified applicants.
Audition: Upload audition materials through the Jacobs School of Music Audition Portal. Please create a guest account if you do not already have one and select the "Jacobs Academy - Summer Piano Academy" option. (If you have issues accessing the audition portal please emailmusicsp@iu.edu)
Scholarships: The Piano Academy offers partial artistic merit scholarships to qualified applicants. Click here for more information. If applying for a merit scholarship, the letter of request must be emailed to the Director by the application/audition deadline of March 2, 2026.