Marilyn Stadtman hopes she’ll get to hear her house guest, Kontstantin Soukhovetski, warming up at her Steinway next week. She has listened to countless students perfect their art at her piano over half a century of teaching private piano lessons.

The veteran Columbia music teacher is hosting the young Russian pianist, a past winner of the Hilton Head International Piano Festival. Next week Soukhovetski will be one of four guest artists featured during the third annual Southeastern Piano Festival directed by USC music professor Marina Lomazov.

Stadtman hosted one of the guest artists last year and was thrilled to hear the celebrated Chu-Fang Huang practice for her performances right there in her home. “I think being exposed to such youthful talent helps keeps us young,” said Stadtman.

To hear the name of her last year’s house guest listed as a finalist last week in the highly–prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition delighted Stadtman. Huang, won $10,000 and three years of tours and management.

“Seeing their dedication to their music and their art is inspiring. I think it’s marvelous they work so hard at it,” Stadtman said.

Besides Soukhovetski, other guest artists will be Jerome Lowenthal, Julliard School piano professor; Ursula Oppens, artist–in–residence at Northwestern University; and Jane Magrath, professor of piano and piano pedagogy, University of Oklahoma.

Columbians will have the opportunity to hear these guest artists and the up and coming stars of piano.

Like Huang, who has earned more recognition for her talent and hard work since last year’s guest appearance in Columbia, some of the local up and comers who competed last year have also been successful.

Columbian Lucy Dinkins, chosen to compete in the 2004 festival held at the USC School of Music, traveled this spring to Varna, Bulgaria, with her music teacher, Lomazov. Earlier in the year, Dinkins won first place at the SC division of the Music Teachers National Association.

Russell Corwin of Chapin was invited to compete in the local festival again this year as was Elaina Brooke McKie of Irmo. Samiron Ray of Dutch Fork High School will play again this year; he has competed all three years the festival has been hosted in Columbia.

USC’s Third Annual Piano Festival

The University of South Carolina will celebrate some of the nation’s most outstanding and celebrated pianists and 20 more up–and–comers at the third annual Southeastern Piano Festival June 12–19 at the USC School of Music.

The festival provides specialized training for aspiring pianists in grades 8 - 12 and offers a showcase of piano performances by celebrated and new artists. Twenty young pianists will participate, with many events open to the public.

“The festival has raised the bar for piano programs,” said award–winning pianist Marina Lomazov, a Juilliard graduate and the director of the festival.

Guest artists include Jerome Lowenthal, professor of piano, Juilliard School; Ursula Oppens, artist–in–residence, Northwestern University; Kontstantin Soukhovetski, winner of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition; Jane Magrath, professor of piano and piano pedagogy, University of Oklahoma.

Highlights include the Arthur Fraser Concerto Competition, recitals and master classes by renowned guest artists and daily lessons with USC music piano faculty.

Tickets for each performance are $10 for adults, $5 for Music Teachers, National Association members, and $3 for college students. Students 18 and younger will be admitted free of charge.

The complete festival schedule is available online at www.music.sc.edu.

For more information, contact Laveta Gibson at 803-576-5763 or lgibson@mozart.sc.edu