What is the International Keyboard Institute and Festival?
The International Keyboard Institute and Festival is a summer piano festival that offers two weeks of concerts, masterclasses and lectures, and is open to participant students as well as the public. Since 1999, the Festival has attracted students from around the world who have the opportunity to attend the Festival to study with international Faculty and Artists, participate in masterclasses, and attend nightly concerts and special weekend lectures and events given by some of the world’s best-known pianists and scholars. Students receive three lessons per week and can observe other lessons throughout the day. The Festival has grown from a base of 30 participants to well over 100 each season. Participants who attend the Festival for two weeks are eligible to compete for $10,000 in the IKIF Artist Recognition Scholarship Awards.
What are the dates of the 2022 Festival and where will it take place?
PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC, IT IS WITH REGRET THAT WE NEED TO CANCEL THE MASTERCLASSES FOR THE INSTITUTE PART OF IKIF 2022. WE ARE WORKING ON PRESENTING A SMALL IN PERSON CONCERT SERIES FOR THE FESTIVAL PART OF IKIF 2022. PLEASE SHELTER SAFELY AND KEEP PRACTICING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYALTY TO IKIF. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AT IKIF 2023!
These FAQs are for your reference only:
The dates are July 12 - 26, 2019. Activities will take place at Kaufman Music Center, Merkin Hall, and Yamaha Artist Services in New York City, with most performances in Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center (129 W. 67 St.).
How do I apply to IKIF?
Please submit your information by using our secure, online
application form with a 30-minute audition CD or DVD recording, or preferably, instructions for links to audio or video files (free choice of repertoire). Please also submit a check in U.S. dollars payable on a U.S. bank or indication of a credit card payment for the $50 application fee payable to International Keyboard Institute & Festival by May 15. We are no longer accepting money orders. If you would like to wire the application fee to us, please contact us at
info@ikif.org for wire transfer instructions.
How much is Tuition for IKIF? Is IKIF offered for credit?
General tuition for participants (those who play in class is):
$950 USD for the Complete Institute (both sessions)
$590 USD for Session I (July 12-18) or Session II (July 19-26)
There is a $50 non-refundable application fee for participants.
Non-playing auditors (those who just listen in class) can attend IKIF as follows:
$300 USD for the Complete Institute (both sessions)
$150 USD for Session I (July 12-18) or Session II (July 19-26)
There is a $50 non-refundable application fee for auditors.
IKIF is not offered for credit.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
Please indicate your request for a scholarship by submitting a cover letter or email along with your resume, in addition to sending your online application. Submit your audition materials (see above) and $50 application fee. Scholarships will be granted only to those applying for a full two-week session and are based on merit and need. Please note that scholarship recipients will be asked to assist the Festival by taking tickets, passing out programs and ushering for concerts. Please note that $50 application fees are due May 15. Tuitions are not due until June 15. You will be notified of your acceptance and scholarship amount, if requested, on June 7.
When will I be notified if I have been granted a scholarship?
On June 7. Scholarship tuition is due June 15.
When will I be notified of my application acceptance?
You will be notified by email of your acceptance on June 7. Your acceptance email will contain information about tuition and scholarship. Regular and scholarship tuitions are due June 15.
How do I submit tuition payment?
By check in U.S. dollars payable on a U.S. bank or by indication of credit card payable to International Keyboard Institute & Festival.
Please note that if you pay by credit card on our website, these funds will be processed immediately.If you wish to wire the money, please contact us at
info@ikif.org for wire transfer instructions.
Does IKIF refund tuition fees?
The application fee of $50 is non-refundable. Tuition is refundable one month prior to the Festival. Following that a Doctor's note is required.
If I am a participant in the Festival, do I also need to purchase concert tickets?
No. As long as you are paying tuition or are on scholarship, your tuition or scholarship allows you access to all events.
How do I determine what my dorm fee will be?
Please see our Housing page.
Can I arrive at the dorm earlier than July 11 and/or stay later than the morning of July 27?
No.
Is there a meal plan?
There is no formal meal plan. There are also many restaurant options in the areas surrounding Mannes School of Music and Merkin Hall.
Can I cook in the dorm and do my laundry?
Yes.
Is there a phone in my dorm room? Access to the internet?
Yes.
How do I check into my dorm?
Please see our Housing Information page in the spring for these instructions.
What can I do after I check into the dorm on July 12?
Starting Sunday, July 12 you may start practicing. We will post practice options here in January 2020. You will also see your masterclass schedule posted for the first two days (Monday and Tuesday) in the afternoon on Sunday, July 12. We will advise where the schedule will be posted, after January 2020. The first IKIF 2020 event will be the concert of Founder/Director Jerome Rose on Sunday, July 12 at 8:00pm at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center (129 W. 67 St.). Please check in with our staff in the afternoon before this concert. This includes participants and auditors. We will advise where to check in after January 2020.
When can I start practicing?
We will advise where you can start practicing starting Sunday, July 12 as well as every day of the Festival from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm. This will be posted after January 2020.
Can I practice at Festival venues before July 12 or after July 26?
No.
Where can I practice?
We will post practice options after January 2020.
Can I sign up for a practice room?
No. Practice rooms are on a first come, first served basis.
Are master classes assigned?
The first 2 days of classes will be assigned. You will see your assignment posted on the Festival Bulletin Board starting on Sunday, July 12. After that, you will be able to sign up with the teacher of your choice, by a lottery system which will be explained at the General Meeting on Monday, July 13 at 11:00am. The meeting place will be posted after January 2020.
Can I attend the lessons of other participants?
Yes. You are encouraged to do this.
Can I arrange to have private lessons?
All of our lessons are masterclasses. Lessons held in the larger rooms are open to the public and other IKIF Faculty and students. Lessons held in the smaller classrooms will be private due to the size of the room.
How many lessons can I expect per week?
You are entitled to three lessons per week.
Will I have an opportunity to perform?
Masterclasses are open to the public and other Festival participants who may listen in on classes. The competition is open to all participants who attend the Festival for two weeks.
Can I apply to compete for the IKIF Artist Recognition Scholarship Awards without being a full session participant in the Institute?
No. Participants must attend both sessions to compete for the Scholarship Awards.
If I am a full session participant, how can I participate in the IKIF Artist Recognition Scholarship Awards?
There will be a sign up sheet for the preliminaries of the competition only after IKIF 2020 has started.
Who should be considered as a participant in the IKIF Artist Recognition Scholarship Awards?
Only those pianists ready to make a New York appearance.
What repertoire should I prepare for the IKIF Artist Recognition Scholarship Awards?
A full recital of substantial repertoire lasting one hour and twenty minutes and including a major sonata with all movements. There will be three phases of the competition: Preliminaries, Semi-Finals, and Finals. Participants should have one hour and twenty minutes of varied and substantial repertoire ready should they advance to the Finals. During the Preliminaries and Semi-Finals, number of minutes played will be at the jury's discretion.
What happens at the 9:00 am, 12:00pm and 3:00pm masterclasses?
Classes are three hours long. Three participants will be scheduled for each 9am, 12 noon, and 3pm slot. Although each participant will have an hour long lesson, the other two students are encouraged to sit in and listen to all the lessons. All classes are open to any student, auditor or member of the public who wishes to attend.
Will there be a General Meeting at the start of the Festival?
Yes. This will take place at 11:00 am on Monday, July 13. Jerome Rose and the staff will introduce themselves and give you an overview of the Festival. We will also answer any questions you may have. Meeting location will be posted after January 2020.
Can participants and auditors walk into any Masterclass or 8:00pm events?
Yes. But, you must obtain a ticket from our staff in order to be counted as an audience member upon entry to evening events in Merkin. Our staff will be located at a table just in front of the Merkin Hall box office before evening concerts held there during the Festival.
Can my parent or guardian attend masterclasses or evening events without a ticket?
No. If your parent or guardian will be with you for all or part of the Festival, they must obtain tickets to attend the masterclasses and evening events. They can either pay for each event they attend ($20 for the Masters Series), or they can purchase a specially discounted pass for the Festival for $150. This will allow them to attend all events during the two week Festival. They can apply for this special pass either in person at the start of the Festival, or online under the Per Day section. Please send a follow-up email to
info@ikif.org stating that this is a special request for a Parental Festival Pass.
Can I attend the Festival alone or reside in the dorm alone if I am under the age of 18.
No. You must attend the Festival with a parent or guardian if you are under the age of 18. There is a special discounted parental pass for this purpose. You must reside in the dorm with someone over the age of 18 if you are under 18.
Is there a concert subscription or pass available to buy at a discount for those not attending the Festival as participants, auditors, or parents/guardians?
Yes. We will post this information after January 2020.
Are there Student Discounts available?
No.
How do I get to Yamaha Artist Services by public transportation?
We will post information about this in January 2020.
How do I get to Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center by public transportation?
The address of Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center is 129 West 67th Street. The M66 bus goes across town and makes a stop near Merkin Hall. The M104 bus goes up and down Broadway and stops near 67th Street. The No. 1 subway stops at 66th Street along Broadway.