Department of Performing Arts: Music

International Piano Institute Workshop 2011

August 1st to August 5th 2011
SOU Performing Arts Department of Music
SOU Music Recital Hall, 405 S Mountain Ave, Ashland OR 97520

An intensive piano immersion for pianists of all ages and levels sponsored by the Piano Department at Southern Oregon University. Intermediate to advanced students of all ages are welcome to apply! The International Piano Institute provides a unique opportunity for participants to study with renowned faculty, Dr. Nelita True, Kristina Foltz, and Alexander Tutunov. Students will attend and participate in masterclasses and discussions, play their repertoire on stage in a masterclass setting, have ample practice time, and culminate their experience in a final Student Performance.

Cost:
Performers $300 (entire week)
Auditors $150
Piano Teachers $100
Individual Event $20
Day Pass $35

The Institute will also include creative discourse, excursions, daily classes on piano mechanics, and workshops for piano teachers. Teachers are offered a discount for auditing the entire event. Auditors are invited to attend all of the events and concerts and participate in class discussions.  Private lessons are available. This year we are not offering housing, but our staff is happy to offer lodging assistance to out-of-town guests.

Students under the age of 18 coming from out-of-town will require adult accompaniment. The Institute will commence with its annual faculty Opening Piano Concert, Monday, August 1, 2011 at 7:30 pm. Kristina Foltz and Professor Tutunov will pilot the evening in this much-anticipated musical journey.

Please send bio with your current musical activities and your background, a tape of your performance of two contrasting works along with a deposit of $25 made out to: SOU Music Department (IPI).

Send the application to: c.o. Colleen Graves, Piano Institute Southern Oregon Univeristy Music Department 1250 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, OR 97520

For special consideration of any unusual circumstances, changes to the regular application procedure or schedule requirements: contact 541.552.6544 or email foltzk@sou.edu.

About the faculty:

On the 2011 faculty, in addition to Dr. Alexander Tutunov and Kristina Foltz, the International Piano Institute is proud to present Dr. Nelita True, professor at the Eastman Conservatory of Music in Rochester, NY. Dr. True has been described in Clavier Companion as “One of the world’s most sought-after and beloved pianist-teachers.” Her students have won top prizes in national and international competitions, and many of her former students now serve on the faculties of major schools around the U.S. and in other countries. Dr. True has served as a jury member in numerous piano competitions in the U.S. and abroad. Formerly Distinguished Professor at the University of Maryland, she has been awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, the Eisenhart Award for Excellence in Teaching at Eastman, the 2002 Achievement Award from the Music Teachers’ National Association, the Lifetime Achievement Award in Graduate Education from the University of Rochester, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Keyboard Pedagogy Conference (USA). Dr. True will offer two masterclasses at the Institute, as well as an exclusive workshop for piano teachers.

Alexander Tutunov is widely recognized as one of the most outstanding virtuosos of the former Soviet Union. First Prize winner of the Belarusian National Piano Competition and winner of the Russian National Piano Competition, Tutunov's playing was described by Soviet Culture, Moscow, as "exhilarating and inspired, and which demonstrated a unique talent".  Dr. Tutunov maintains a busy performing schedule in Europe, China, Mexico, and the United States as a recitalist, soloist with orchestra, and on radio and television. Dr. Tutunov is also in demand as an adjudicator for piano competitions.  Tutunov's recording of the Abeliovich Piano Concerto was featured as part of the Emmy award winning soundtrack for the History Channel documentary, Russia: Land of Tsars, and his CD of the Tchaikovsky Concert Fantasy with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra was produced in January 2008. Other recordings include: Concerto for Piano & Orchestra by Peter Sacco with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (Albany Records) and the solo piano works of Lev Abeliovich Sonatas & Frescoes, Trio, Songs (Altarus Records). The CD America's Millennium Tribute to Adolphe Sax on the AUR label, which includes Tutunov's recording of "Transformations" by Todd Barton, received a Grammy nomination.
Tutunov graduated magna cum laude from the Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory (studies with Anna Artobolevskaya and Lev Naumov) and University of North Texas (piano studies with Joseph Banowetz). Awarded his doctoral diploma with honors in concert performance from the Belarusian State Conservatory, Dr. Tutunov has taught at the Minsk College of Music, the University of North Texas, and Illinois Wesleyan University.  Alexander Tutunov now lives in Ashland, where he is Professor of Piano and Artist in Residence at Southern Oregon University. A successful piano pedagogue, he continues to prepare award-winning students. Dr. Tutunov is Artist in Residence at the University of Alaska Southeast, Artistic director of the SOU International Piano Institute, and was recently named Associate director of the Chinese-American International Piano Institute in Chengdu, China.

Kristina Foltz has been playing piano since the age of five. Her teachers include Joseph Banowetz, Lawrence Campbell, and Stanislav Pochekin with whom she took post-graduate studies at the Conservatorio del Liceu of Barcelona. She also holds a masters degree in piano performance from the University of North Texas.  In 1997 Rotary International awarded her the prestigious Ambassadorial Scholarship to study and perform in Germany, Spain, and Italy where she was sponsored as featured soloist as well as collaborative musician with young artists from all over the world. She was finalist or first prize winner in a number of national and international contests including the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra concerto contest, the St, Louis Symphony Concerto Contest and the Rome Festival Orchestra featured soloist competition for which she earned the privilege to perform as soloist in Rome in the Festival venue. She has appeared as guest artist at the Instituto Internacional de Piano de Guanajuato, the Britt International Piano Institute, as well as soloist and recitalist in a number of local and international venues. She also performed the North American premiere of Charles Bordes Fantasies Rythmiques in 2008. Kristina maintains a duo with Alexander Tutunov for over 10 years of appearances in two-piano, four hand and solo concerts to enthusiastic audiences in the US and abroad, and most recently is working on her second CD recording to be released in July of 2010. An dedicated educator, she has enjoyed an enriching participation in the arts community of Southern Oregon for over ten years as private piano teacher, the Piano Department in Southern Oregon University, having founded both the Siskiyou Institute and the Britt /SOU international piano institute as well as forming and participating in numerous creative programs and activities for the stimulation and creative growth of young classical artists. Kristina is in demand as master teacher and adjudicator in the state of Oregon and she enjoys both the individual as well as the masterclass setting as avenues for personal and professional growth in dynamics and energetics of piano playing.