The Lied Center for Performing Arts and the Glenn Korff School of Music will host the annual Lied Center Piano Academy July 15-19, led by Marguerite Scribante Professor of Piano Paul Barnes, who serves as artistic director.
The academy is designed for students entering grades 9 through their first year of college in fall 2024 and is tailored toward serious intermediate and advanced students interested in gaining professional-level instruction and guidance to raise their performance level and understanding of piano music.
“What we’re looking for are young high school students who have the ability to play at a certain level, but who are also interested in being part of a unique pianistic community,” Barnes said. “That was the one thing that so impressed me during last year’s academy. I saw all these kids coming from the most disparate backgrounds that you could imagine, and they organically created this incredibly tight-knit community because it’s all focused on their shared desire of entering into a beautiful relationship with music. And it’s so important for young people to have something that is bigger than themselves in which they can participate, not just as an individual, but as a community of humans.”
The featured academy artist this year is Eldred Marshall, who currently serves as the artistic director/conductor of the Mansfield Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally, he serves as associate director of music at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Rockwall, Texas. He is also the music director/conductor of the Music Ministry Conservatory Choir, the founding artistic director/conductor of Lucas Chorale, and the organist/music director of Grace Fellowship Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Lucas, Texas.
“I’m looking forward to working with awesomely talented pianists and sharing my ideas and experiences with them,” Marshall said. “This academy is here to serve and to educate. Attending the academy will make you a stronger and more confident musician. The Lied Piano Academy has a strong faculty roster and a legacy of success. I am humbled and honored to be part of this amazing team.”
Also teaching at the Lied Piano Academy this summer are Glenn Korff School of Music faculty members Tom Larson, David von Kampen and Mark Clinton. Glenn Korff School of Music Alumni Madeline Rogers and Kaleb Wilkening will also be academy teachers.
One of the returning students will be Winston Schneider, of Omaha, who just recently won the national MTNA high school composition competition.
“We premiered one of his pieces last year, a duet piece, when we incorporated the chamber music component, which was hugely popular,” Barnes said. “Winston is going to be writing another piece that will receive its world premiere performance. He’s a remarkable young man and has been in the academy for a couple of years now. We’re very excited to have him back.”
Schneider is looking forward to returning to the Lied Piano Academy and working with Barnes.
“Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ‘The world belongs to the energetic.’ If that quote is true, then the world belongs to Dr. Paul Barnes,” he said. “He’s a lively and inspiring figure who always offers astute and helpful musical insight. Getting to work with Dr. Barnes is always one of my favorite parts of the Piano Academy.”
There are four performances throughout the week. Marshall will perform a solo recital on Tuesday, July 16 at 7 p.m. On Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m., there will be a recital by Barnes and Marshall featuring all works by Philip Glass. And on Friday, July 19, there will be two final recitals for the participating students. The chamber recital will be at 11 a.m., and the solo recitals will be at 1 p.m. All the recitals will take place in Westbrook Music Building Rm. 119 and are free and open to the public.
For more information or to apply, visit https://go.unl.edu/liedpianoacademy. Applications will be accepted through May 20 or until the Lied Piano Academy is full. Participation is limited to 20 students.