This summer, the internationally acclaimed Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival (RPPF) celebrates its 14th season, returning to the University of South Florida (USF) for three transformative weeks of music, mentorship, and community connection.
From June 27 – July 17, some of the world’s most promising collegiate pianists will gather in Tampa for one of the only tuition-free piano festivals of its kind in the world. Selected from more than 225 applicants representing 29 countries, 45 young artists will receive intensive daily lessons, masterclasses, career guidance, and performance opportunities—at no cost.
“Talent is everywhere,” states RPPF Founder & Artistic Director, Rebecca Penneys. “Tuition-free opportunity is not. This festival helps close that gap.”
Participants hail from top music schools such as Juilliard, Eastman, New England Conservatory, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, among others. Several are flying in from leading programs in Italy, Hong Kong, and Tel Aviv. Together with RPPF’s 25-member world-renowned faculty, they’ll explore this year’s theme of “Roots & Branches” which frames artistry at the piano as a continuous dialogue of informed choices, where grounding and growth exist in a dynamic balance.
Community Concerts: Inspiring Audiences
Beyond its rigorous training program, RPPF offers a dozen public concerts throughout the three-week festival, many of which are free or low-cost to attend. Performances such as the 2 Piano 8 Hands Extravaganza! and Student Showcases take place at USF. Other venues across the Tampa Bay area include the New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Imagine Museum, James Museum, and Steinway Gallery Clearwater, bringing world-class classical piano directly to the community. You can also catch these rising stars of piano in live performances and interviews at 11:00 AM EST, June 30, July 9, and July 14 on Classical WSMR 89.1/103.9. These events provide a spotlight on exceptional emerging talent while keeping the arts accessible to families, students, and music-lovers from all backgrounds.
Through perseverance and community support, RPPF has strengthened its commitment to accessibility and artistic excellence since its inception in 2013. Today, it stands as both a beacon of cultural vitality and a testament to what generosity in the arts can achieve.
Visit rebeccapenneyspianofestival.org for a full schedule of events including this year’s festival kick-off performance at the Dalí Museum on June 25 and a solo recital at USF featuring Steinway Artist and RPPF Founder, Rebecca Penneys, on June 28.
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Rebecca Penneys Friends of Piano, Inc., a registered non-profit in the state of Florida, supports this one-of-a-kind undertaking. Funds gifted to the organization come from private donors, RPPF alumni families, and former students of Rebecca Penneys, as well as corporate partners such as Steinway & Sons and Paradise News.
Donations are welcome to sustain annual programs, and sponsorships are available at https://rebeccapenneyspianofestival.org/support-contact/
Learn more about RPPF at https://rebeccapenneyspianofestival.org or via our free YouTube Channel.
To learn more about Rebecca visit https://rebeccapenneys.com/