Top young pianists from around the world will converge on Lawrence in July for the Kansas University School of Music’s International Institute for Young Musicians Summer Music Academy.

The annual IIYM academy and competition is scheduled for July 7-27. It is led by Scott McBride Smith, a KU piano professor.

He said the students attending the academy are top-notch, often practicing piano for three hours a day at a minimum.

“When people ask me about it, I kind of compare it to being a pre-Olympic-caliber gymnast,” he said.

The competition includes several events that are open to the public at the Lied Center Pavilion:

l 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 7, International Piano Competition Semifinals, free.

l 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 9, International Piano Competition Finals, free.

l 7:30 p.m. July 12, Honors Recital, free.

l 3 p.m. July 14, Winners Concert for the International Piano Competition. Tickets $10 at the door.

l 7:30 p.m. July 18, Honors Recital, free.

l 7:30 p.m. July 25, Honors Recital, free.

Attending this year’s academy are four Douglas County residents: Luther Fuller, a Liberty Memorial Central Middle School student from Lawrence; Ulises Magana, a Southwest Middle School student from Lawrence; Chaeyoung Park, a Veritas Christian School student from Lawrence; and Mason Kelso of Eudora.

“I think having it here is really good for the musical life of Lawrence,” Smith said.