About the Festival
The annual Southeastern Piano Festival (SEPF) is comprised of two major components: the USC Piano Institute and the Arthur Fraser Piano Competition. Students may choose to apply to the Institute alone or to both Institute and Competition. Students who apply to both but are not accepted as finalists in the Fraser Competition are still eligible to attend the Institute.
USC Piano Institute
June 7-14, 2026
The USC Piano Institute is open to early-advanced to advanced pre-college pianists, age 13-18, who are considering music study at the undergraduate college level and who are interested in a concentrated experience emblematic of the university experience that piano students at the University of South Carolina receive. Participants will each receive several private lessons with USC piano faculty members, attend lecture and seminar sessions, have opportunities to perform publicly in concerts off-campus in the city of Columbia, to participate in masterclasses, will attend daily concerts, and may audit the Fraser Competition.
Arthur Fraser Piano Competition
June 12, 2026
The Arthur Fraser Piano Competition has been a highlight of the SEPF since the Festival’s inception in 2003. The competition is open to advanced pre-college pianists age 13-18 and US citizens from any location. Twelve finalists will be invited to participate in the competition at USC. The finals will be adjudicated by a distinguished panel of judges. Winners of the competition receive cash awards and the first prize winner has the opportunity to perform as soloist with the South Carolina Philharmonic on a regular subscription concert. Competition prizewinners will perform in the final SEPF winners’ concert on Saturday night, June 13.
