The Luzerne Music Center is sponsoring scholarships for select winners of the 2025 Piano Star International Competition for the fourth consecutive year. LMC is an annual summer music camp in New York’s Adirondack Park that aims to provide world-class music instruction to gifted young musicians, ages 9 to 18, regardless of their financial circumstances. Founded in 1980 by Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Bert Phillips and Steinway pianist Toby Blumenthal, LMC blends high-intensity music festival with traditional summer camp environments.
The LMC Summer Camp Scholarship Awards for next year include:
- 1 four-week full scholarship, including room and board, to attend the 2026 Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY, awarded to the Gold Prize Winner of Group E (ages 16-18)
- 1 two-week full scholarship, including room and board, to attend the 2026 Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY, awarded to the Gold Prize Winner of Group D (ages 13-15)
- 1 two-week full scholarship, including room and board, to attend the 2026 Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY, awarded to the Gold Prize Winner of Group C (ages 10-12)
“As we celebrate our fourth year as a scholarship sponsor with Piano League, we are honored to continue supporting the remarkable young pianists who dedicate themselves to this inspiring competition. Our partnership is built on a shared belief in the power of music education to shape lives, and we are thrilled to welcome this year’s scholarship winners to Luzerne Music Center. We look forward to offering them an immersive summer of artistic growth, community, and creativity in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of New York.”
– Emily Brown, VP of Operations & Artistic Planning
About Luzerne
Founded in 1980 by Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Bert Phillips and Steinway pianist Toby Blumenthal, Luzerne Music Center aims to provide world-class music instruction for gifted young musicians in a summer camp environment regardless of their financial circumstance. Musicians ages 9 to 18 come from all over the world to train at LMC’s campus located in the foothills of New York’s Adirondack Park.
At LMC, we pride ourselves on creating an environment that blends a high-intensity music festival with that of a traditional summer camp. We value courage and resilience, empathy and compassion. We value teamwork and we value kindness. We value diversity. We believe in supporting and uplifting others.
The 20-acre wooded campus consists of recreational facilities, student cabins, a charming Adirondack performance lodge, an outdoor performance shed, practice buildings, dining hall and a natural sandy beachfront on Lake Luzerne.
“This was my son’s fifth summer at LMC. This camp is his home away from home. He loves going and every year his playing improves so much. Most importantly, his love of music is reaffirmed by spending time with other music-loving kids.”
– Vanessa ’21-’25 LMC Parent
Classes and faculty
At LMC, piano students receive weekly private lessons and participate in daily piano topics classes. In addition, they also participate in choice-based elective classes on a wide variety of music topics and are assigned chamber ensembles that receive daily coachings. Optional lessons are also available in composition, conducting, voice, jazz, and secondary instruments.
Led by our team of piano faculty members, the piano program at LMC is regarded for both the personal attention provided by our faculty members, as well as an enriching group experience.
LMC’s 2026 piano faculty include:
- Emiko Edwards (Junior Session)
- Margarita Rovenskaya (Junior Session)
- Marko Stuparevic (Junior Session & Senior Session)
- Anikó Szokody (Senior Session)
In addition to our full-time faculty, Luzerne Music Center invites guest artists from around the world to perform for and teach our students. Distinguished guest composers and musicians have included Leonard Slatkin, Midori, George Crumb, John Corigliano, and Joan Tower. During the session, students also enjoy visits to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center featuring performances by Opera Saratoga, the New York City Ballet, and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Performance opportunities
Our students perform on and off campus throughout the summer, with many of our concerts open to the public and livestreamed. While at LMC, students have the opportunity to perform as soloists and in duos through our weekly Piano Prelude concerts. We also offer audition-based solo opportunities as well, including a concerto competition during each four-week session.
“I had the most incredible experience at the Luzerne Music Center this summer! Luzerne exceeded all my expectations. I can’t thank LMC enough for the wonderful summer I had!”
– Lillian, LMC Student
Camp life
While training at Luzerne Music Center, you will have the opportunity to take in the great outdoors of New York’s Adirondack Park. LMC offers daily recreational activities and our private beachfront gives students a place to swim, kayak, canoe, and paddleboard.
Matched with peers of similar age, students stay in new wooden cabins equipped with bunk beds, electricity, storage shelves, bathrooms, and air conditioning. Counselors live in a room within the camper cabin and work around the clock to keep steady supervision at all times.
This year’s camp
Information on LMC’s 2026 summer program date and the application process can be found below:
Applications open: October 1 – January 1 (early application window); January 1 – March 15 (regular application window)
Official website: www.luzernemusic.org
Application fee: $55 for early applicants who apply by January 1; $85 regular application fee after this date
Audition information: www.luzernemusic.org/admissions
Contact email: in**@lu**********.org
Contact phone: (518) 696-2771
Location: 203 Lake Tour Rd. Lake Luzerne, NY 12846
2026 program dates:
- Junior Session (ages 9-15): June 21 – July 17
- Junior A: June 21 – July 4
- Junior B: July 5 – July 17
- Senior Session (ages 13-18): July 20 – August 16
