Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Pianists from around the world will be competing for over $14,000 as the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music debuts the George and Peggy Schmidbauer Competition Saturday, Jan. 26, and Sunday, Jan. 27, on the SFA campus.

For several years the School of Music has been seeking an avenue through which we could extend our reputation beyond Texas and this part of the country, explained Ron Anderson, director of the school. "Thanks to the Schmidbauers' generosity, we are able to hold this major international music contest."

From the 40 applicants, jurors chose 10 semi-finalists for the senior division, open to 19- to 27-year-olds, and eight for the junior division, open to 15- to 18-year-olds. Senior semi-finalists, representing Canada, Italy, North and South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States, will perform from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, in W.M. Turner Auditorium located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building. Each pianist will play a sonata, concerto and a third selection.

Junior semi-finalists will perform 30-minute recitals from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday in Cole Concert Hall located in the Wright Music Building. The junior competitors represent Canada, China and the United States. The semi-final rounds are free and open to the public.

Three finalists from each division will be named following Saturday's competition. The junior finalists will then compete in the final rounds beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Cole Concert Hall. The first place winner will receive $1,000; second place, $750; and third place, $500.

The senior finals competition will be begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, in W.M. Turner Auditorium. The first place winner will receive $5,000 and a $2,500 concert engagement with the Orchestra of the Pines. Second place will receive $3,000, and third place, $2,000. Tickets for both final rounds are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students.

The jurors are all acclaimed pianists and instructors. Senior division jurors are Ning An, instructor at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn.; Valery Kuleshov, artist-in-residence at the University of Central Oklahoma; and Ksenia Nosikova, associate professor at the University of Iowa. Junior division jurors are Constance Carroll, professor emeritus at Louisiana State University; Stuart Deaver, faculty member at East Central University in Ada, Okla.; and Ann Heiligman Saslav, professional piano artist.

"This will be a wonderful opportunity to hear some of the best young pianists in the world in a competition setting," Anderson said. "We are excited to bring this level of talent to Nacogdoches."

The Wright Music Building is located at 2210 Alumni Drive, and the Griffith Fine Arts Building is located at 2222 Alumni Drive.

For tickets or more information, please visit www.sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.