The 54th Annual Piano Festival of the
AMERICAN MATTHAY ASSOCIATION for PIANO

University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
June 8-11, 2011







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 recital is held each evening. The year 2011 marks the fifty-fourth annual gathering and special attention will be paid to the bicentennial celebrations of both Frédéric Chopin and Robert Schumann. In addition, the role of the collaborative pianist will be addressed, with performances of masterworks from the vocal and string literature. Previous Matthay Festivals have taken place at many locations throughout North America, including Philips Academy at Andover, 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 Richmond, King College, Union University, East Carolina University, and Columbus State University.






Festival Location



The University of Kansas is a major educational and research institution with 29,000 students and 2,400 faculty members. The university has 50 nationally ranked programs and earns excellent ratings in the top college guides. For more than a decade, the Fiske Guide to Colleges has awarded KU four-star ratings in all categories — academics, quality of living, and social life. The University of Kansas is a charter member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the only institution authorized by the Kansas Board of Regents to grant doctoral degrees in music. In celebration of the Liszt anniversary evening recitals will be given on an 1885-86 Bechstein piano (right) that was given to Liszt late in his life at the Spencer Museum of Art on the University of Kansas campus. Daytime sessions will be held in Murphy Hall, which is home to the School of Music.

Lodging Options

Festival participants are responsible for their own housing arrangements. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Best Western Hotel (left), 2309 Iowa Street, Lawrence, (785) 843-9100. The rate is $55.99 a night on Wednesday and Thursday and $79.99 for Friday and Saturday. Guests just need to identify themselves as Matthay Festival participants. A continental breakfast is provided. Rooms will be held at the special rate until Thursday, May 26. Paricipants desiring more luxurious accommodations may contact the Eldridge Hotel (upper right), a historic hotel in downtown Lawrence at 701 Massachusetts Street, (785) 749-5011, or the Oread (lower right), 1200 Oread Avenue, (785) 843-1200, which is within walking distance of the Spencer Museum where the recitals will be held.









Banquet

This year’s banquet will be in the Kansas Union, 1301 Jayhawk Boulevard. The menu will be a choice of Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast, or Seared Salmon, or Quinoa and Lentil Terrine with Portabello Mushroom. Dessert will be a fruit tart with seasonal fruit with an apricot glaze. The banquet will be held on Saturday, June 11 at 5:15 p.m. The fee for the banquet is $36 including tax and gratuity.





Travel to Lawrence, Kansas

The nearest airport to the KU campus is Kansas City International Airport, which is approximately an hour’s drive from Lawrence. It is served by most major airlines. To go from the airport to Lawrence, one can rent a car or use a shuttle service. Ground Transportation Service, 301 Maple, Lawrence (785) 865-2872, $40.00 per person, one-way, cash. $50.00 credit card. Please call for reservations.

For driving directions to the University of Kansas, please click here.



Festival Program

Festival Registration

Back to Matthay Home Page