The 12th annual International Piano Festival and Competition is underway at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., with 19 young pianists studying with guest artists and faculty and 13 of them vying for cash and scholarship awards.
The event, which began in 2005 as a competition for high school students, was expanded in 2011 to include opportunities for noncompetitors to study with internationally acclaimed artists. This is the second year the competition has been divided into two levels: precollege and college. This year’s competitors range in age from 11 to 26.
Already this week, guest artists Enrico Elisi and Shen Lu have showcased their talents in recital. On Friday, June 17, guest artist Mack McCray and Lee faculty Ning An and Cahill Smith will perform. Their recital will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Squires Recital Hall of the Humanities Center on Lee’s campus, 1250 Parker St. NE.
The official opening of the piano competition for precollege students will take place at 10 a.m. today, June 16, in Squires Recital Hall. At the conclusion of this round, precollege finalists will be selected to perform in the final round at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18. These finalists will perform an entirely new program for the judges. The college competition will take place at 7:30 p.m. today.
Prizewinners for both rounds will be named directly following the precollege final round Saturday. Prizes for the precollege competition are $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, $500 for third place. College competitors are vying for a $1,500 first-place prize.