Southeastern Piano Festival

03/24/2026

🎹 APPLY NOW — Deadline Extended to March 30!

By popular request, we’ve extended the deadline for pianists ages 13–18! Don’t miss SEPF’s immersive week of study and performance.

🎹 Masterclasses with Soyeon Kate Lee & Blair McMillen
🪄 Creative programming workshop with Pedja Mužijević
✨ Daily lessons with USC School of Music piano faculty

🏆 Plus: eligibility for the Arthur Fraser Piano Competition for over $10,000 in prizes and a concerto performance with the South Carolina Philharmonic

Apply now!

03/19/2026

🎹 Reminder: Application Deadline Approaching!

Taking place June 7–13, 2026 at the University of South Carolina, the Southeastern Piano Festival offers pre-college pianists an exceptional opportunity for focused study and performance.

Participants will receive:
• Daily private lessons with USC piano faculty
• Solo performances and masterclasses
• Possibility to compete in the Arthur Fraser Piano Competition, with over $10,000 in prizes and concerto performance with the South Carolina Philharmonic

Featuring 2026 Guest Artists Soyeon Kate Lee, Blair McMillen, and Pedja Mužijević.

📅 Deadline: March 23, 2026

We encourage interested students to submit their applications soon at southeasternpianofestival.com!

03/10/2026

🎹 Reminder: Applications are open for SEPF 2026!

Join us this summer at the Southeastern Piano Festival for the USC Piano Institute and Arthur Fraser Piano Competition, taking place June 7–13, 2026 at the University of South Carolina featuring Guest Artists Soyeon Kate Lee, Blair McMillen, and Pedja Mužijević.

This intensive program for pianists ages 13–18 offers a week of artistic growth through:
• Daily private lessons with USC piano faculty
• Masterclasses and student performances
• Participation in the Arthur Fraser Piano Competition
• Over $10,000 in prizes
• First Prize concerto performance with the South Carolina Philharmonic

📅 Application Deadline: March 23, 2026
🔗 Apply today at southeasternpianofestival.com

02/27/2026

Don’t miss the SEPF 2024 Arthur Fraser Competition winner in concert with South Carolina Philharmonic tomorrow, Saturday February 28!

Get ready, Columbia — 15-year-old piano powerhouse Olivia Larco is hitting the stage with the South Carolina Philharmonic on February 28! 🎹✨ Already a standout in major venues like Disney Hall (where she performed as a guest artist with Gustavo Dudamel), Olivia is quickly becoming one of classical music’s brightest rising stars.

And she’s not holding back: Olivia Larco takes the spotlight in Tchaikovsky’s thunderous Piano Concerto No. 1 — big melodies, nonstop drama, and jaw-dropping virtuosity. 🔥 This concert is going to be electric… don’t miss it! 🎶👏

Olivia Larco is sponsored by Joseph Bruce. Purchase tickets to The Tchaikovsky Concert here: https://www.scphilharmonic.com/concerts/2025-2026/capital-concert-the-tchaikovsky-concert/

02/21/2026

🎹 Applications Now Open | 2026 Southeastern Piano Festival

The USC Piano Institute and Arthur Fraser Piano Competition, presented by the Southeastern Piano Festival, will take place June 7–13, 2026 at the University of South Carolina.

Designed for outstanding pre-college pianists (ages 13–18), the program offers:

• Daily private lessons with USC piano faculty
• Solo performance and masterclass opportunities
• Participation in the Arthur Fraser Piano Competition
• $10,000 in total prizes
• First Prize: concerto performance with the South Carolina Philharmonic

2026 Guest Artists: Soyeon Kate Lee, Blair McMillen, and Pedja Mužijević

📅 Application Deadline: March 23, 2026
🔗 Apply now at southeasternpianofestival.com

02/13/2026

🎹 Announcing the 2026 SEPF Guest Artists!

The Southeastern Piano Festival is proud to present four extraordinary concert artists for 2026: Soyeon Kate Lee, Blair McMillen, Pedja Mužijević, and Nicholas Susi, pianists whose artistry, imagination, and individuality are shaping today’s musical landscape.

From Lee’s internationally celebrated performances and acclaimed recordings, alongside her leadership on the faculty of Juilliard School, to McMillen’s genre-defying career as a fearless soloist and passionate advocate for new music, to Mužijević’s boldly curated interdisciplinary projects heard on the world’s great stages, each artist brings a distinctive and compelling voice to the piano.

Nicholas Susi is recognized for his electrifying performances, innovative scholarship, and deeply thoughtful interpretations of Romantic masterworks, offering a compelling artistic voice that bridges virtuosic tradition with fresh perspective.

Together, these four remarkable musicians promise an inspiring summer of performances, collaboration, and musical discovery at SEPF 2026. ✨

🗓️ June 7 - 13, 2026

Visit southeasternpianofestival.com for more information and to apply now!

06/27/2025

to some amazing moments from ! 🎹 ✨ Grateful for the incredible piano artistry, inspiring masterclasses, and amazing group of young participants who made it special. Already looking forward to next year!

06/14/2025

Today @ SEPF: Join us for the culmination of the Southeastern Piano Festival featuring winners of the Arthur Fraser Piano Competition in an evening of dazzling showstoppers!

🎟️ link in bio

06/13/2025

Following the final round today, we are thrilled to announce the results of the 2025 Arthur Fraser Piano Competition!

🥇First Prize and Best Solo Work: William Wu
🥈Second Prize and Best Contemporary Work: Benjamin Luo
🥉Third Prize: Eddison Chen
🏅Discretionary Award: Oliver Corro
🏅 Discretionary Award and Young Jury Award: Jonathan Mei
🏅 Discretionary Award: Claire Tong

Congratulations to all finalists on their incredible performances!

06/13/2025

Today @ : Twelve finalists compete in the USC School of Music Recital Hall for a chance to perform with the South Carolina Philharmonic in a Masterworks concert and more than $10,000 in cash prizes. 🎹 🌟

FREE & open to the public!

🕘 Morning Session: 10:00 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
🕑 Afternoon Session: 2:45-5:45 p.m.

🔗 Can’t join us in person? Stream virtually: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZHMDnsT-VjA?si=r8G6SjDpXoegeaCC

06/12/2025

Today at SEPF: Artist Showcase featuring Drew Petersen 🎹

3:30pm: FREE Masterclass with Phillip Bush @ USC School of Music Recital Hall

7:30: Artist Showcase: Drew Petersen @ Recital Hall. The electrifying pianist, winner of Avery Fisher Career Grant and American Pianists’ Association top awards performs works by Adams, Mozart, Wang Jie, and Liszt.

LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN: visit www.southeasternpianofestival.com