The acclaimed Tanglewood Music Center Piano Program prizes versatile talent and diverse musical perspectives.

“It is a precious thing to be around so many special musicians at Tanglewood, from faculty to Fellows to visiting artists. I can't imagine another place where such adventurous programming can happen, and at such a pace! I was lucky in my two years at the TMC to take part in a great variety of projects, from premiering unearthed songs written in the first half of the 20th century, to performing a work for four pianos, to participating in solo piano masterclasses and workshops. This is besides numerous duo partnerships with singers, exploring repertoire from the 17th century until today. I already loved this rich mixture of musical roles (aren't pianists always chameleons!), and I am so happy that in the coming years, this approach will define the Piano Program even more.”

 

- Elias Dagher, 2022-23 Piano Fellow

The TMC encourages a wide range of strengths and interests for all young pianists entering the field, from solo to a variety of collaborative work. TMC Piano Fellows engage in both the instrumental and vocal areas, giving the Piano Program an innovative and uniquely broad focus. 

2026 Piano Program

Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music

Weekly TMC concerts at Seiji Ozawa Hall and the Linde Center for Music and Learning feature instrumental chamber music ranging from canonic repertoire to newer works. These are coached by esteemed TMC Instrumental Faculty members, Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians, and renowned guest composers and conductors.

For TMC Vocal Program performances, Piano and Vocal Fellows contribute equally to the creative process. All Piano Fellows deepen their engagement in vocal chamber music (including voice / piano repertoire) with the guidance of TMC Vocal Arts Faculty led by Dawn Upshaw. 

Solo Piano Concert

All Piano Fellows will present a full program of work for solo piano in Studio E at the Linde Center for Music and Learning, coached by TMC Piano Faculty. Fellows will collaborate with faculty to build repertoire and prepare their performances during the summer at Tanglewood. 

Emanual Ax Mozart Concerto Project

In 2026, Piano Fellows will engage in a deep study of Mozart Piano Concertos led by Emanuel Ax. Each Fellow will prepare the solo part to a Mozart Piano Concerto and the accompanying reduction to another concerto, to be performed in a series of three classes. Fellows will gain unique insight into Mozart’s pianistic style and work closely with Mr. Ax and their peers, deepening their interpretive understanding of these works. 

Ensembles and Contemporary Music

The Festival of Contemporary Music allows Piano Fellows to be spotlighted in solo, chamber, and ensemble pieces that display a variety of unusual playing techniques. In 2026, the Festival of Contemporary Music will be curated by Esa-Pekka Salonen, a luminary in the fields of composition and conducting. Fellows also collaborate with major and emerging composers, as well as Composition Fellows, to develop brand-new TMC-commissioned works. 

Piano and non-piano keyboards are often essential to large ensemble music, and at the TMC, Fellows have many opportunities to play in these less commonly encountered settings. Recently, Piano Fellows have participated in performances of Bach cantatas and larger chamber works.

Every Piano Fellow plays a variety of keyboard instruments in the TMC Orchestra (TMCO); in recent seasons, these have included performances under distinguished conductors including BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons, Dima Slobodeniouk, Thomas Adès, George Benjamin, and Susanna Mälkki. 

Classes

Prestigious faculty-led classes are frequently open to the public on the Tanglewood grounds. Recent piano classes have been presented by Emanuel Ax, Jeremy Denk, Kirill Gerstein, Orli Shaham, Andreas Haefliger, Marc-André Hamelin, Garrick Ohlsson, Paul Lewis, and TMC Resident Piano Faculty. 

The Piano Program also offers regular repertoire classes led by TMC Piano Faculty and visiting artists. Instrumental classes feature solo works, while vocal classes address skills needed by both pianists and singers, as well as language and stylistic concerns. Intimate class sizes ensure optimal conditions for performance, critique, and study throughout the summer fellowship.