Evening concert to feature gifted young Kent State Piano Institute Scholars

Evening concert at Laurel Lake to feature gifted
Kent State Piano Institute scholars

On Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 7:30 PM, Laurel Lake Retirement Community will host a festival performance by gifted young pianists from all over the country, participants of the 3rd Annual Piano Institute at Kent State. The concert is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by The Piano Division at Kent State University’s Hugh A. Glauser School of Music, the July 19 - 29 Piano Institute at Kent State is a highly intensive festival for talented piano students in grades 7-12, offering a unique combination of lessons, master classes and performance opportunities. Students from all over the nation will converge on the campus of Kent State University for 11 days of inspiration, learning and application.

The Laurel Lake Foundation is again sponsoring the 2009 Piano Institute with a $3,000 grant to support tuition and transportation costs for students, as well as the rental of Steinway pianos needed for the workshop. The July 23rd performance before an appreciative Laurel Lake audience is an important part of the students' preparation for their July 28th gala concert at Severance Hall's Reinberger Chamber Hall.

Piano Institute participants will:

• perform several concerts, culminating in a Gala Performance at Severance Hall’s Reinberger Hall.

• receive four hours of one-on-one lessons with Kent State piano faculty.

• participate in master classes with esteemed guest artists.

• attend workshops on sight-reading, technique, practicing, and audition/competition preparation.

• attend daily musicianship and movement classes.

• attend concerts of The Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center and Kent/Blossom Music.

• live on campus with peers from across the country.

2009 Piano Institute instructors include:

Dr. Donna Lee

, associate professor and coordinator of the Piano Division at Kent State University

Dr. Jerry Wong

, assistant professor of piano, Kent State University

Joela Jones

, (guest artist), principal keyboard, Cleveland Orchestra

Chu-fang Huang, (guest artist), acclaimed concert artist and Cleveland International Piano Competition winner

The Arts at Laurel Lake

is a free concert series presenting a wide variety of performing artists as a public service to support the arts in Northeast Ohio. For information about future events, or to inquire about scheduling a performance date at Laurel Lake, contact Susan Busko at 330-655-1411.

Laurel Lake is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community offering multiple home styles within 150 scenic acres in Hudson, Ohio. For information call 330-650-2100 or visit www.laurellake.org.

To learn more about the Piano Institute, contact Dr. Jerry Wong at 330-672-9243.

Website: http://www.ccs.kent.edu/piano/