Piano Area Events

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music Piano Department maintains an ambitious schedule of guest artists and masterclasses and enjoys a collaborative relationship with the UGA Performing Arts Center whose world-class visiting performers frequently give presentations for our students.

Recent Masterclass Artists include:

Pianists: Anderson & Roe Piano Duo, Stephen Hough, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Orli Shaham, and a special two-day residency with legendary artist and pedagogue Mikhail Voskresensky who worked with our students in both masterclass and private lessons

Composer: Lowell Liebermann (Chamber Music Athens composer-in-residence)

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music is an all-Steinway school, and the Piano Department enjoys a close collaboration with Steinway. Since 2019, several piano students have received the opportunity to share a recital at Steinway Hall in New York City. The next New York concert, featuring our top graduate and undergraduate students, will take place in the 2024-2025 season. Please contact Dr. Liza Stepanova if you are interested in attending. We look forward to seeing you there!

Undergraduate students receive special consideration for masterclasses and other opportunities. Additionally, since 2021, the piano area holds the Robert G. Edge Undergraduate Piano Competition, with five to six winners and honorable mention awardees receiving a scholarship supplement. The next Edge Competition is scheduled for April 14, 2024 in Edge Recital Hall.

The Piano Area also hosts the FREE annual UGA Piano Symposium, which features renowned presenters with a special focus on preparing students for successful performances in recitals, festivals, and competitions. In addition to lectures and masterclasses, the symposium often includes live teaching demonstrations with typical students at different stages of development. The 2023 Symposium will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024, starting at 10am in Edge Hall, with featured presenter, internationally acclaimed pianist and pedagogue Yong-Hi Moon (Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University). Please contact Dr. Grace Huang for more information.

The annual Chamber Music Athens festival presents ample opportunities for piano students to collaborate in chamber music ensembles, enjoy masterclasses with world-class musicians, and perform in showcase recitals.

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