KU piano camp attracts international talent

Local youth among 101 participants

John Bond is a good piano player, for an incoming senior at Free State High School.

He wants to know how he stacks up against young pianists from around the world.

Bond will get that chance starting Sunday, as he joins 100 other young piano players at the International Institute for Young Musicians at Kansas University.

“This will give me a chance to compare myself with everyone else around the world,” Bond said. “I’m pretty sure it’s going to be an interesting experience, with the people from all around the world, and all the teaching and classes.”

This is the third straight year KU has hosted the IIYM, which features a series of classes, recitals, concerts and master classes.

Free State senior John Bond will be one of 101 participants in the International Institute for Young Musicians at Kansas University.

Many of the events, which end July 29, are free and open to the public. Those include semifinals of a competition, which are Sunday, and the finals, which are Tuesday, both at the Lied Center.

Pianists will be here from across the United States and from Japan, Taiwan and Canada. Students are selected through a taped audition process and must pay between $1,800 for two weeks to $3,200 for four weeks of instruction, including lodging at KU.

For Bond, who began playing piano at age 7, it’s an opportunity to learn from top faculty who come from as far away as China. He’s hoping to major in music and someday be a professional pianist or teacher.

“I’m hoping it’ll be a chance to open up some roads for me,” he said, “and let me see how music will really play in my life.”

Jack Winerock, a KU piano professor who will teach at the institute, said the institute helps put talent in perspective for many piano players.

“Most of the pianists do what they do – and obviously they enjoy music and playing the piano – but basically to a certain extent they do it in isolation,” Winerock said.

And the students make friendships that can last for years.

“When they come here, the bonding is really fantastic,” Winerock said. “They find 100 other people who basically love doing the same thing they do.”

Piano events open to the public

Several events with the International Institute for Young Musicians are open to the public:
¢ The piano competition, with semifinals from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and finals from 3 to 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, both at the Lied Center. The competition is free to attend.
¢ Winners will perform and be interviewed at 11:10 a.m. Thursday on Kansas Public Radio, 91.5 FM.
¢ Winners of the competition will hold a concert at 7:30 p.m. July 10 at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students.
¢ Free student recitals will be held at 7 p.m. July 13, July 20 and July 27 at the Lied Center. Recitals also will be held throughout the program at 6:30 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall. For dates, visit www.iiym.com.
¢ Free, open master classes featuring students and faculty will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, July 15 and July 22 in Swarthout Recital Hall.