June 2nd, 2010
Texas State to host International Piano Festival

Washington Garcia, Texas State’s Assistant Professor of Piano, is the founder and director of the International Piano Festival.

STAFF REPORT

The inaugural International Piano Festival will be hosted by Texas State’s School of Music on June 5-13 on the campus.

Around 24 young pianists from around the world will be selected by a panel of judges to participate in the week. The week’s activities for the young musicians will include lessons, master classes, recitals and seminars. There will even be time for some fun with a trip scheduled to the outlet malls, an afternoon set aside for tubing and a pizza party.

Founded and directed by Texas State’s Assistant Professor of Piano Washington Garcia, the festival aims to foster the students’ artistic development while creating a network of musicians from varied backgrounds. Garcia, a world renowned and honored pianist, is the youngest Latin American, at 25, to have received a doctoral degree in piano performance from the Johns Hopkins University.

Performances will include recitals by the faculty of the festival, as well as from young artists from the Peabody Institute in Baltimore and the Juilliard School of Music in New York.

On June 12, participants in the festival will be featured in performances for the community in Evans Auditorium at 1:30 p.m and 6 p.m.

More information on the Texas State International Piano Festival can be found by visiting www.music.txstate.edu/piano/txipf/festival.html.