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 either the Institute (regular length or extended version) or the Fraser Competition separately, or they may choose to apply to both. Students who apply to both but are not accepted as finalists in the Fraser Competition are still eligible to attend the Institute.
June 6-10, 2025 (optional extension to June 14)
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 including with guest artist Clayton Stephenson, and will attend daily concerts highlighting the USC music department and the piano in various areas (jazz, solo classical piano, chamber music), as well as a solo recital by Clayton Stephenson. Students who choose the extension option of the Institute will have at least one additional private lesson, admission to two other evening guest artist concerts (Caleb Borick and Drew Petersen), further performance and educational opportunities, and may audit the Fraser Competition.
June 11-14, 2025
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. Finalists not receiving a prize will have the opportunity to perform publicly in a masterclass with distinguished guest artists, while competition prizewinners will perform in the final SEPF winners’ concert on Saturday night, June 14.