Small
Town
Charm
✶
BIG
TIME
MUSIC
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Small Town Charm ✶ BIG TIME MUSIC ✶
Welcome to Clayton Piano Festival!
Clayton Piano Festival is one of the Triangle’s fastest growing musical entities, bringing world-class performances and unique concert experiences to rural NC. The festival presents a select number of carefully tailored events each year, cultivating local talent as well as engaging exceptional guest artists from all around the world to share music in creative ways with diverse audiences throughout the region.
Our Sponsors
Reviews and Testimonials
From audience members…
“I felt I was having a spiritual moment. Her ‘performance’ was way beyond this world.”
“The performance was above anything I’ve ever attended…”
From audience members…
It was just amazing!!!!
“If you missed this and somehow knew what you missed, you are kicking yourself in the rear now!”
About CPF
Clayton Piano Festival began in 2011 as a dream of pianist Jonathan Levin—a way to share the kind of music he loved with people who might not otherwise encounter it. Tucked into the rural heart of central North Carolina, the festival started simply: just a handful of concerts for small audiences in and around Johnston County. But even from the beginning, the goal was never just about performing; it was about connecting—making music feel personal, meaningful, and rooted in community.
Over the years, that dream has grown into something much bigger. The festival has become known for its creative, boundary-blurring events that pair world class performances with unforgettable experiences: dinner concerts on Valentine’s Day, Halloween performances with costume contests, holiday galas, and even multimedia shows celebrating the various historical events of holidays. Concerts have taken place in traditional halls like The Clayton Center, but also in barns, breweries, high end wedding venues, and outdoor spaces—all transformed into concert venues for a night.
When the pandemic hit, CPF didn’t go quiet. Instead, it doubled down—livestreaming beautifully produced concerts, supporting out-of-work artists across the country, and highlighting local businesses through custom video features. In 2021, for the festival’s 10th anniversary, rather than cancel or scale back, CPF took the music directly to the community with a series of free pop-up concerts in a variety of nontraditional venues throughout the year - one each month!
Today, Clayton Piano Festival is a blend of everything it’s learned over the past decade. Each season brings together sensational musicians from all around the world, fresh formats, and diverse styles— from classical and opera to jazz, Broadway, and beyond. Audiences can expect everything from solo recitals to talk-show-style events with Q&As and live filming. And while the festival’s footprint has grown to include towns like Raleigh, Cary, and Garner, its heart remains the same: creating moments of connection through music, right where people are.
