COLLABORATIVE PIANO OPPORTUNITIES

Musiktheater Bavaria’s Collaborative Piano program provides tuition-free Pianist Fellowships for 4 pianists each summer. Pianists spend their time at MTB in July refining their skills in vocal coaching, German lyric diction, German language, and collaborating with singers.

In addition to playing in voice studios and attending most of the general classes with the singers, pianist fellows receive extra classes relating to collaborating with singers. Topics may include: accompanying recitativo secco, playing in various styles, navigating orchestral or pit band reductions, balance challenges with different voice types, improvisation, breathing with the singer, and voicing. There will be opportunities to play in public performances and master classes (subject to approval by professional mentors), and pianists have private piano lessons once a week. Pianists also observe and work closely with professional coaches, and study German language and diction.

To apply, please email a recent VIDEO of 3 selections accompanying singers. The selections may be taken from opera, operetta, musical theater or German Lied. Please also submit the MTB APPLICATION FORM, which may be downloaded from this website's Apply/Application page, along with your resume and photo, and choose either opera or musical theater as your preferred concentration. (If you choose musical theater, please be sure to include musical theater selections in your audition.) If you wish, you may check both areas to indicate that you would like to be considered for either opera or musical theater.

All collaborative pianists selected for pianist fellowships at MTB 2025 will be awarded tuition-free positions. (Please see the MTB/Dates and Cost, and the Oberaudorf sections of the website for detailed information about our included lodging, meals, and local transportation.)

Requirements: Pianists applying for OPERA must hold a completed master's degree by the end of spring semester 2025. Pianists applying for MUSICAL THEATER must hold at least a completed bachelor's degree by the end of spring semester 2025. The upper age limit for pianist fellowship positions at MTB is 35.

Testimonial from a collaborative pianist who came to MTB the summer after completing his MM in Keyboard Collaborative Arts at University of Southern California:

My month with Musiktheater Bavaria was such a fulfilling and wonderful experience and I would gladly recommend the program to any young or aspiring vocalist or pianist. The world-class faculty helped shape and improve the students over the course of the program. As a pianist who sat in on voice lessons, I saw very clear, wonderful improvements in the vocal students' technique, musicality, and overall maturation. The coaching faculty, who were my teachers and mentors, exhibited teaching qualities of utmost erudition. I feel so honored to have worked and learned from them; their advice and guidance helped my musicianship and my outlook on my career as a collaborative pianist. Finally, the students were of a high caliber and I feel very privileged to have worked with them. Their excitement as young performers, their commitment to the art, and their hard work and diligence were truly inspiring to me. In sum, the month spent in Oberaudorf in the Bavarian Alps was a very happy, healthy and creative environment for all parties involved.

Testimonial from a collaborative pianist who was a DMA student in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying at University of Illinois:

MTB truly exceeded my expectations, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I was especially impressed with the world class faculty that coached us. I grew and learned so much in just four weeks! I also learned how much I have to grow as a musician and what tools I need to get there.

Testimonial from a collaborative pianist who was a DMA student in Keyboard Collaborative Arts at University of Southern California:

Musiktheater Bavaria offers a rigorous program of piano classes, lessons, masterclasses, and hours spent every day to observe how vocal coaches teach. For me it was a great chance to gain the knowledge and experience to become an opera coach while also learning German in daily language courses. I would highly recommend this program to anyone!

Testimonial from a Collaborative Pianist who was a MM student in Collaborative Piano at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and concentrated in the Musical Theater Studio:

MTB was a fantastic musical and cultural experience. I loved the chance to learn more about my art within a beautiful, relaxed and completely different setting. Inviting opera singers, pianists and musical theater performers to work together as a group creates a unique and awesome environment. ​

Questions? Please email

MTB 2025 PIANIST FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 15, 2025. 

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