The Matthay Festival is designed to offer participants direct and
concentrated access to the Matthay teaching principles as they apply at
all levels, including that of the performing artist. Daytime sessions
include lectures, demonstrations, performances, and master classes, and
a full recital is heard each evening. On Wednesday, June 20, the program will also feature the annual
Clara Wells Scholarship Auditions. The year 2012 marks the fifty-fifth annual gathering. Previous Matthay
Festivals have taken place at many locations throughout North America,
including the Philips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts, the University of Maryland, the
University of Central Florida, the Royal Conservatory of Music in
Toronto, San Jose State University, Williams College, Pennsylvania
State University, the University of South Carolina, Wittenberg
University, the University of Kansas, Columbus State University, the University of
Richmond, and East Carolina University.
Union University
is located on a 290-acre campus on the north side of Jackson, Tennessee.
Jackson, with an area population of 100,000, is located 80 miles east of Memphis and 120 miles west
of Nashville. Union is a private, four-year, coeducational liberal arts-based university offering bachelor's,
master's and doctoral degrees. Founded in 1823, Union is the oldest institution affiliated with the
Southern Baptist Convention. It is ranked as a top tier institution by U. S. News & World Report, and the music programs are
accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The student body includes more than 4,200 undergraduate and graduate
students from 44 states and 33 countries. More than $120 million in new campus construction has been
completed during the past decade, including several new Georgian-Colonial classroom buildings that support state-of-the-art teaching and research
facilities.
Participants are responsible for their own lodging. A block of 25 rooms has been reserved at the
DoubleTree Hotel at
1770 Highway 45 By-Pass in Jackson. (731 664-6900) The group rate is $84.00 per night. To receive the group rate mention the group name,
Union University—American Matthay Association for Piano. These rooms will be held at the special rate until May 28, 2012.
This year’s banquet will be held in the Executive Dining Room
of the Carl Grant Events Center on Friday, June 22 at 5:15 p.m. Participants will choose Italian Marinated Chicken or Pasta
Primavera (vegetarian) on their festival registration form. The fee for the banquet is $15.00. This event is limited to 24 attendees.
It is recommended that participants flying to the festival fly to Memphis International Airport (left) or
Nashville International Airport (right), and rent a car to drive to Jackson. Both of those airports are served by most major airlines.
Due to the location of the festival, access to a car is necessary during the festival.
From Memphis: Take Interstate 40 towards Jackson. Take Exit 80A (Highway 45 Bypass South). Just beyond the second stop light will be the Doubletree Hotel on the left.
From Nashville: Take Interstate 40 towards Jackson. Take Exit 80A (Highway 45 South). Just beyond the second stop light will be the Doubletree Hotel on the left.
From the North on Highway 45 Bypass: Enter town on the Highway 45 Bypass. After crossing Interstate 40, just beyond the second stop light will be the Doubletree Hotel on the left.
From the South on Highway 45: In downtown Jackson follow the signs for the Highway 45 Bypass. After the stoplight at North Parkway the Doubletree Hotel will be on your right.
From Memphis: Take Interstate 40 towards Jackson. Take Exit 80B (Highway 45 Bypass North). Immediately take the Vann Drive Exit. At the blinking light turn right onto Stonebridge Boulevard. At the stop light turn right onto Vann Drive. Just beyond Ruby Tuesday turn right onto Pleasant Plains Extended. At the four-way stop go straight. Enter the west entrance to Union University. Jennings Hall is the second building on the left. Park in the lot on the north side of the building.
From Nashville: Take Interstate 40 towards Jackson. Take Exit 82B (Highway 45). At the stoplight at the end of the ramp go straight onto Vann Drive. Just beyond Ruby Tuesday turn right onto Pleasant Plains Extended. At the four-way stop go straight. Enter the west entrance to Union University. Jennings Hall is the second building on the left. Park in the lot on the north side of the building.
From the North on Highway 45 Bypass: Turn right onto Union University Drive. There will be an Arby’s Restaurant on the right. At the stop sign at the end of the street, turn left. After you pass the Guard House, you will see Jennings Hall on the Right. Park in the lot on the north side of the building.
From the South on Highway 45: In downtown Jackson follow the signs for the Highway 45 Bypass. Just beyond Interstate 40 take the Vann Drive Exit. At the stoplight at the end of the ramp turn right onto Vann Drive. Just beyond Ruby Tuesday turn right onto Pleasant Plains Extended. At the four-way stop go straight. Enter the west entrance to Union University. Jennings Hall is the second building on the left. Park in the lot on the north side of the building.
Festival Program
Festival Registration
Back to Matthay Home Page