The Oxford Piano Festival is held annually during the summer, hosted in some of Oxford’s most historic venues and supported by Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. The 2021 Oxford Piano Festival will take place from 25 July to 1 August. The Festival’s position as a leading centre for learning is clear from the calibre of soloists and teachers taking part; the clamour for places and keenness of students to return year after year; and its profile in the international music community. Its objective is simple: to inspire, support and encourage piano music making of the highest quality. It provides young players with the rare opportunity to work alongside and learn from some of the world’s finest pianists and teachers, to perform and to learn new repertoire, all as part of a dedicated community of artists which encourages exchange over competition. The concept of the pianist as musician lies at the heart of the Festival. The various roles of the pianist – as virtuoso, chamber musician, accompanist, conductor, academic and teacher – are all explored. As part of this holistic approach, the various international schools of piano playing are considered. Taking place on our wonderful campus at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, the Festival boasts concerts and recitals by the foremost pianists of our time, a lively social atmosphere, and enthusiastic observers. This combination has proven time and time again to be a winning formula, as previous students have testified: I have forged so many strong friendships and have learnt SO much about playing and appreciating music. The professors are simply inspiring and the lessons ring on for a long time after the course has finished. Many legendary pianists of modern times, such as Menahem Pressler, Alfred Brendel and Yefim Bronfman, have made their way to Oxford to take part in the Festival, alongside a wealth of significant pianists. With Alfred Brendel as the Festival’s Patron, Sir András Schiff as President, and the Festival’s founder, Marios Papadopoulos a renowned pianist himself, the bar is set very high in terms of quality and artistic integrity.