This weekend, the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music and Circle Music Center will host the Fourth Annual Memphis International Piano Festival and Competition.

The event will kick off Friday, October 4, with masterclass presentations from renowned pianists Cathal Breslin of Arizona State University, Chris Guzman of Penn State University and Ana Orduz of Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia, followed an opening gala concert at Circle Music on Poplar Avenue. The weekend continues with a bevy of competitions, festival events and additional masterclass presentations on Saturday from UofM instructors Artina McCain, festival and artistic director, and Jonathan Tsay, co-festival director.

“A masterclass is basically the same as a private lesson, but with an audience,” said McCain. “The teacher tends to give more general comments during the performance so the audience can benefit as well.”

The event will cap off the afternoon of Sunday, October 6 with the collegiate competition,  awards ceremony and winners recital.

This year’s nearly Memphis International Piano Festival and Competition boasts nearly double the enrollment of the 2018 festival, with 100 participants this year compared to 55 in 2018. Participants will compete for more than $5,000 in prize money across five categories based on the age of the performer.

“We’ve gained momentum each year,” said McCain, who co-founded the Memphis International Piano Festival alongside Breslin in 2015. “Word of mouth has also been a huge contributor to the growth of the festival.”

Competitors will be allowed to perform their choice of repertoire of two or more contrasting pieces depending on the category.

This event is free and open to the public. See below for a complete schedule for the Memphis International Piano Festival and Competition. For more information on this event, visit memphispfc.com

 

 

Memphis International Piano Festival & Competition Schedule

Subject to change. Events located at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis and Circle Music.

Friday, Oct. 4th

Location: University of Memphis and Circle Music

(Friday Masterclass participation is optional and by invitation for local students.)

9 A.M. – Cathal Breslin Masterclass

10 A.M. – Ana Orduz Masterclass

11 A.M. – Christopher Guzman Masterclass

7:30 P.M. – Piano Extravaganza Concert (Circle Music 5124 Poplar Ave)

Featuring solo and multi-hand performances by Festival Guest Artists! Ravel, Debussy, Latin American Works, Granados and more

Saturday, Oct. 5th

(Masterclass participation is optional and by invitation and/or first come first serve request.)

Location: University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music

8 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. – Competitions and festival events

11 A.M. – Ergonomically Scaled Piano Keyboard Demonstration DS 6.0 119A

3:15-4:15 P.M. – Artina McCain Masterclass

4:15-5:15 P.M. – Jonathan Tsay Masterclass

Sunday, Oct. 6th

Location: University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music

8 A.M. to 1 P.M. – Collegiate Competition

1:30 P.M. – Collegiate Awards Ceremony

2:30 P.M. – Winners Recital