World's Top Pianists Come Together at Washington International Piano Festival 8/10-14

The 2009 Washington International Piano Festival is proud to announce the slate of world-renowned musicians who will serve as lecturers at this year's first annual festival. In addition, 44 piano students from the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and Germany will participate in the sessions.

Beginning August 10th and running through the 14th, the Ward RecitAl Hall on the beautiful campus of The catholic University of America will host a daily series of lectures on various topics for aspiring concert pianists.

This year's lecturers include:

David Dubai - an acknowledged authority on Piano Literature who has taught at the Julliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, Seoul National University and the Berne Conservatory in Switzerland. Mr. Dubai has also written several books including The Art of the Piano.

James Litzelman - an active performer and lecturer who's demand has taken him to Europe, China, Russia and Mexico. Mr. Litzelman currently serves as Director of the graduate program in piano pedagogy at The catholic University of America where he has been on faculty since 1993.

Joseph Banowetz - an internationally known performer who has concertized in 35 countries worldwide and has recorded over thirty compact discs included a series named by Fanfare Record Review (U.S.) as an outstanding international release in 1993. Banowetz is also a respected author with his book The Pianist's Guide to Pedaling having been printed in seven languages.

Charles Timbrell - an acclaimed performer described by the London Times as "masterly" who has lectured in the U.S., England, France, and Italy. Dr. Timbrell has served for five years on the Fulbright Selection Committee in Piano and currently is Professor of Music and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at Howard University.

Robert Sherman - a radio personality, music critic and concert narrator who has hosted the multiple award-winning radio folk series "Woody's Children" for the last 40 years. Mr. Sherman also serves as a columnist for The New York Times and is currently Senior Consultant for WQXR.

This year's lectures will be as follows:

David Dubal: "Three Hundred Years of Piano" (August 10, 2009 at 2:00 pm)
James Litzelman: Workshop for Piano Teachers (August 12, 2009 at 10:00 am)
Joseph Banowetz: "Stylistic Awareness and Problems in Piano Pedaling" (August 12, 2009 at 2:00 am)
Charles Timbrell: "French Pianists On and Off the Record, 1809-2009." (August 13, 2009, 4:00 pm)
Robert Sherman: "The Business of Music" (August 14, 2009, 2:00 pm)

All lectures are open to the community and can be purchased individually for $20 at the door or by emailing washingtonpianofest@gmail.com.

WIPF is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the performance and teaching of classical music at the highest standard. The Festival is sponsored by Jordan Kitt's Music and Yamaha.

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