My time at CPI was extremely rewarding in so many ways! All the faculty, both visiting professors and all the directors were exceptionally kind, highly knowledgable, and supportive. The environment was very welcoming and encouraging, I felt truly inspired by others. I made a lot of personal progress at CPI, and the program is exactly what I needed as a musician! I had a wonderful time making new friends, connections, and working closely with the pianists too. I seriously cannot recommend this program enough!

I had an absolute blast at CPI and have not only gotten a ridiculously good live performance recording of my first art song, but made long-lasting relationships with my collaborators that we hope to keep fostering throughout our careers!

I can’t possibly put into words just how much this program has changed my life! Every musician should attend CPI if they are even remotely interested in collaborating with anyone, ever. The skills that are taught here are invaluable to those wanting to make a career in collaborative piano. I first attended CPI in 2022 and and again this year because it completely changed the way that I approach and learn music. I continually find myself able to succeed in situations because of the skills and knowledge I acquired at CPI. Both years, the faculty have been absolutely amazing! They are so incredibly kind, encouraging, and supportive, and having so many opportunities to learn from them through lessons, masterclasses, coachings, and classes was truly awe-inspiring. I forged friendships and connections here that will last a lifetime. I feel the deepest gratitude to Ana María Otamendi and Elena Lacheva for creating this program and sharing their passion with others. It is truly life-changing and an experience you won’t find anywhere else.

I have never felt more blessed meeting so many distinguished masters in collaborative piano, as well as such a caring and supportive community of musicians, in just the second year of my collaborative career! This program opened me up to the wonders of vocal and operatic repertoire, an entire world I can never step back from. I treasure all the meaningful connections I made with everyone here, witnessing the fantastic artistry they bring to the stage, and listening to their deeply personal experiences throughout their musical lives. Highly recommend CPI to anyone who's interested in doing collaborations – this is a seriously underrated program, and I look forward to witnessing it transform the lives of many more pianists to come!

I would highly recommend this program to any musician who wants to learn to be a better collaborator! This program includes tremendous opportunities to learn and grow as a musician from lectures to masterclasses, to private coachings and lessons with the incredible faculty. Additionally, the connections I was able to form with the people at CPI were very meaningful! Thank you very much to Dr. Otamendi, Professor Lacheva, and Dr. Petrongelli!

My gratitude for the directors and mentors at CPI runs deeply. This is a place for an artist who wants to expand their connections, knowledge, and passion. What a joy to sing everyday with such incredible staff.

Beyond the wide array of experts in the field, CPI brings together good people. It is a safe and beautiful environment. You are pushed out of your comfort zone, but always supported in that process.

Three weeks flew by and I’ve gained so many newly learned skills that will last me for years to come. I highly recommend this program to young singers and pianists who are looking for a place to feel seen and heard and who are looking to find out what a true collaboration feels like. The level of instruction is incredibly high thanks to Elena, Ana María, Amy and all of the invaluable guests they are able to bring in.

The faculty and friends I met in the CPI were so inspiring and I learned a lot from them. I would definitely recommend CPI for those who are interested or want to specialize in collaborative piano. The lectures were highly related to us and they filled us with useful information every day. We have had many chances to play with our partners, received coaching, and even played with the faculty. The experience in CPI was joyful and fulfilling.

After three incredible weeks, I feel like I've just completed a crash-course degree in collaborative piano! In that span, I've worked with multiple singers and instrumentalists on a variety of repertoire: opera, art song, duo sonata, concerto, and even folk song! I was exposed to music spanning 300 years, including lots of wonderful 20th- and 21st-century music. I attended classes on almost every possible topic important to being a collaborative pianist! The faculty I worked with are world-renowned, and gave me so much to think about as I continue practicing and making music. This institute should be attended by any performer - pianist, vocalist, instrumentalist - with a passion for making music with others.

Having attended the Collaborative Piano Institute twice, 2019 and 2021, I can say that both times, the world-class professionals that were brought in care about each individual's artisanship and development. The first year I attended, I was nervous because I knew I was not as accomplished as other pianists in the program. Still, the professors were kind and created a safe space for me to learn and soak up information. Two years later and much improved, I still felt safety in this space not only for my own creativity but also for safety in learning. I did not know how much more I would learn having completed the program once, but the new information I soaked in and the old information I needed to be reminded about proved that this program continues to evolve and meet each student at their own level.

Truly, any pianist at any skill level or experience will feel welcomed and loved at CPI!

There are no words to describe the incredible level of education I received at this institution this past summer. Every week was filled with lessons, coachings, Q&A's, masterclasses, lectures, and more with not a minute wasted. I learned to become a better collaborator and overall musician through the teachings of world-class musicians and teachers.

Coming in as a fairly young singer, I felt pretty lost on the direction I wanted to take for my career. But with all of the different and new music, I was guided and introduced to I feel much more confidant in what excites me as a musician. It was a hard year with little to no live music and feeling drained and the Collaborative Piano Institute came in at exactly the right time for me.

The community they foster is also unlike any other program. It's easy for musicians and their egos to get in the way of music-making. But the Collaborative Piano Institute really emphasized and helped build an environment that encouraged learning from mistakes and each other. I made some amazing lifelong friends who inspire me to become a better musician every day. This program honest-to-god changed the way I view musical relationships and helped me understand that every musician is a unit for a singular musical moment that speaks beyond words. We truly collaborate on a molecular level.

I cannot recommend this program highly enough!

Whenever I consider attending a summer program, there are three main criteria that I need to evaluate. The first is what experiences will I have to perform on public masterclasses and recitals and are these opportunities equitable for everyone. Next is who will be on faculty that I can connect with during the program and what can I learn from them.. Finally, I need to review the cost and see if it will be a worthwhile investment.

To the first point, there were ample opportunities to perform on recitals and masterclasses if you came to the program with your repertoire prepared. To the second point, I was shocked when I saw which faculty members I would be able to work with throughout the three weeks. It is truly amazing to have so many big names come to teach at this program. Everyone got a chance to have a lesson/coaching with every faculty member and they each had master classes they gave that you might be able to play on. If you wanted more connection with specific faculty members, I found they were all very open to having you observe their lessons/coachings and were very responsive with email communication for any questions you may have. There were faculty members with a wide variety of specialties including opera, art song, chamber music, etc. And finally, the cost for the program was very reasonable for the three weeks and it seemed there were many opportunities for scholarships.

Add to all of this that the faculty and students maintained a very supportive environment in which growth was encouraged, and you have one phenomenal summer program. Highly recommended for collaborators of all ability levels.

After a year of live performance and music making being put on hold, the Vocal Academy at CPI came into my life at the perfect time. During these three weeks, there was not a single day that went by wasted nor uninspiring - the faculty and guest artists that we all had the opportunity to work with created an environment that is both intense and fast paced, but also one that was nurturing and encouraging. A typical week for a student contains one-on-one coachings and lessons, masterclasses, Q & A's, multiple lectures, rehearsals, and even a live concert or two at the LSU School of Music. It really is such a unique experience, in that it emphasizes in a heightened way the very true and important fact that the singer and pianist are one, single artistic unit, and that when that is realized and brought to its fullest potential, the music making becomes more honest, intentional and real.

I could not recommend this program more to any singer and pianist that is looking for their next summer program!

CPI is one of the best intensive training programs you can do! With sessions every day covering diverse topics, top guest artists, clinicians, and pedagogues from the nation's top schools and institutions (the MET, Julliard, Rice, to name a few), daily masterclasses and concerts, and lessons and rehearsals with faculty and students, you could not ask for more. I grew so much in my collaborative skills as a pianist. I had a unique experience as I came as a piano teacher and solo performer and gained so many skills and insights I will be applying for years to come in both my playing and my teaching. One of the best aspects of this program as well is that the directors are always so caring, accessible, and are 100% committed to ensuring you have the absolute best experience you can have as a participant. At CPI, you will be encouraged, challenged, and inspired. I cannot recommend CPI more highly!

I am a remote participant from London. It is definitely my honour and great pleasure to join CPI this year. The comprehensiveness and diversity of the program broaden my horizons in  collaborating with singers and instrumentalists of greatly varying abilities, tone colour and subtlety. I really enjoyed the past few weeks with all of the amazing faculties and participants. These valuable performance experiences and seminars have brought me to the next level. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to Professor Elena Lacheva and Professor Ana Maria Otamendi for their hard work in running the institute during this challenging period. It is never an easy task to coordinating events and people in different time zones. A huge thanks to everyone who made this summer school happened successfully. Hope to see you all again next year!

The Collaborative Piano Institute is a stellar program for any musician passionate about the collaborative world. The faculty are both marvelous musicians and human beings, and the masterclasses, lectures, and performing opportunities cover a vast array of topics (no small feat in the sprawling world of collaboration!) ranging from French mélodie and contemporary American art song to techniques for smarter practicing, achieving ideal balance in performance, and the variety of career options you have as a collaborator. Whether you are an undergraduate with an interest in collaborative work or a post-grad young professional, this program is an incredible opportunity to learn tons and make lifelong friends as well as incredible music!

The Collaborative Piano Institute is a wonderful program that provides comprehensive training for today's pianists, outstanding singers and instrumentalists to partner with, and some of the very best teaching from world-class faculty artists. It is very clear that Ana Maria, Elena and Amy have designed this program to give students the very best training and experiences that will prepare them for their careers. I also felt a genuine concern from every teacher about the personal well-being of each student. At CPI I have grown as an artist and pianist, I made some wonderful new friends, and I received career guidance that has helped shape my goals moving forward.

I would wholeheartedly recommend CPI to every pianist, whether you are a solo major, new to collaborative piano, or a seasoned professional. You will not regret it!

The three weeks I spent at the Collaborative Piano Institute in the summer of 2021 was a fantastic time. The faculty created a safe space in which they encouraged curiosity, discovery, and learning. The end result was quality collaborative music-making, and art in motion. The festival was filled with wonderful masterclasses featuring musicians in the upper echelons of the industry, one-on-one coachings, and interesting seminars relating to technique, interpretation, collaboration, and also the business of music. I highly recommend this program to musicians of all levels.

This program is absolutely fantastic for anyone who seeks a career in Performing Arts. The all-star faculty were extremely knowledgeable in so many different types of repertoire and styles. They also were generous with their time. Topics ranged from performance best practices, to vocal pedagogy for non-binary and trans singers. Also, the people are awesome! So glad I could meet other vocalists and pianists with the same passion.

I had a great time at CPI this summer! The faculty and my peers were excellent and pushed me to do my best throughout the festival. CPI offered an extremely diverse array of classes, so everyone definitely learned a lot! Would recommend for sure!