The Colorado International Piano Academy & Festival (CIPAF) has officially received 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation, marking a major milestone in the organization’s growth and affirming its long-term commitment to music education, cultural exchange and community enrichment in Northern Colorado.
Hosted on the University of Northern Colorado campus, this year’s Colorado International Piano Academy & Festival will bring together emerging pianists, internationally acclaimed artists and distinguished pedagogues for a 10-day immersive experience that includes concerts, open masterclasses, lectures and performance opportunities. Applications for all 2026 programs are now open.
“This recognition affirms what we have been building for more than a decade,” says Dr. Lei Weng, founder and president of CIPAF. “CIPAF exists to elevate artistic excellence while building meaningful bridges between cultures, generations and communities. Becoming a nonprofit allows us to expand access, deepen our educational impact and ensure that world-class musical experiences remain available not only to international students, but to the Northern Colorado community we proudly call home.”
Founded in 2010, CIPAF has welcomed pianists from around the world to Colorado for rigorous study and performance, while maintaining a strong local presence through public concerts and open educational events. The festival’s mission centers on fostering artistic excellence, cross-cultural understanding, and community connection through the universal language of music.
The 2026 season will include:
- A 10-day academy and festival program offering intensive study, mentorship and performance opportunities.
- The CIPAF International Piano Competition offers talented young pianists opportunities to showcase and compete for prizes, international performance opportunities and concerto performances.
- A new piano concerto workshop, led by University of Northern Colorado Director of Orchestras Dr. Andrés Felipe Jaime, providing selected pianists with in-depth concerto study and the opportunity to rehearse and perform with orchestra.
- An auditor’s pass for local piano teachers and professionals to observe masterclasses, private lessons, coachings and workshops.
Concerts and events will take place in UNC’s historic Milne Auditorium at Kepner Hall and the Campus Commons Performance Hall, with public concert dates to be announced soon.
CIPAF’s artist-faculty represent many of the world’s most respected musical institutions across Europe, Asia and the U.S.—including The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Royal College of Music (London), Rossini Conservatory of Music (Pesaro, Italy) and Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing) as well as a gold medalist of the renowned Horowitz International Piano Competition—bringing global artistry directly to
Greeley.
“With nonprofit status in place, CIPAF is positioned to grow as a lasting cultural resource for our region,” says Reginald Winters, general manager of CIPAF and doctoral piano student at the University of Northern
Colorado. “This milestone allows us to expand scholarships, welcome extraordinary artists to campus and strengthen our engagement with local audiences and educators.”
With its new designation, donations to CIPAF are now tax-deductible and support scholarships, visiting artists, educational programming and free or low-cost community events.
Applications are now open for pianists interested in the Festival Program, International Competition or Concerto Workshop as well as for teachers and professionals wishing to participate as auditors. Learn more, apply or support CIPAF at cipaf.org.
