Piano Academy

2026 Guest Artists

Additional faculty and master class guests for 2026 TBA.

For more information, please visit the Piano Academy blog or contact the Office of Jacobs Academy at musicsp@iu.edu.

2026 Fees and Deadlines

Fees

  • Tuition: $2400
    • $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

  1. Those looking to apply for need-based financial aid should indicate their intent to do so on their program registration form.
  2. The family must complete the Financial Aid application and submit the required supporting documents to the Jacobs Academy Office via a provided secure upload link. 
  3. 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.

  1. Eligibility: Accepting serious pianists, ages 12-19. Exceptionally advanced students younger than 12-years may be admitted by special permission of the director.
  2. 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
  3. 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 email musicsp@iu.edu)
  4. 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.

Once you have completed the previous steps, please submit the Participant Agreement Form

Cancellation Policy: Click here for our most up to date cancellation policy.

Registration Link Coming Soon

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