In 2006 the TCU School of Music will host PianoTexas International Academy & Festival , a new name for the TCU/Cliburn Piano Institute. Founded in 1981, it is still one of the longest-running piano summer music programs in the world. From its inception until mid-2005, the Institute was linked to TCU and the Van Cliburn Foundation. As PianoTexas this role has been redefined as a University enterprise in collaboration with the Foundation.

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the world of PianoTexas International Academy & Festival . Our new title indicates an annual event focusing on the piano and its multifaceted repertoire from solo to chamber music to concerto. We are in Texas, the land of energy, where daring new concepts are embraced and nurtured, where established traditions travel hand-in-hand with bold innovations. The gathering of the very best artists/teachers and participants from all over the world make it a truly International experience. Our program is still the only one of its kind where professionals, young artists, teachers, and amateurs all come together and speak the universal language of music. As an Academy our mission is to perpetuate the timeless traditions of classical music. We provide a plethora of experiences including opportunities to perform, listen, discuss, learn, and ultimately to inspire. And we are a Festival celebrating with a concert every evening during the month of June. We present an Artists Series, concerto concerts with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, recitals introducing laureates from International competitions, and our own participants showcasing their talents.

Come and join us during the summer of 2006 when pianists from all over the world meet on the beautiful TCU campus for a truly outstanding event, come to inaugurate the first PianoTexas International Academy & Festival .