Jackson State Hosts Piano Festival Feb. 21-23

(JACKSON, Miss.) - More than one hundred young and promising piano students will display their talents when they come to Jackson State University for this year’s 22nd Annual Gladys P. Norris National Piano Festival.

The festival will be held Thursday, Feb. 21 through Saturday, Feb. 23 at the F. D. Hall Music Center on the main campus on Lynch Street in west Jackson.

The Gladys P. Norris National Piano Festival has grown to become one of the leading piano festivals for providing a forum for piano students as young as age 6 while also preparing young artists for national competitions and college scholarships.

Karen Laubengayer, professor of music at Jackson State, has served as co-chair with Anita Jackson, former professor of music and founder of the festival from its inception in 1986 to 2002.

“The Gladys P. Norris National Piano Festival is a lasting legacy of Gladys P. Norris, who cared so deeply about advancing the classical piano performance talents of our students,” said Laubengayer.

Cultivating these talents in the formative years is so important in preparing the students for a rewarding career in piano performance. The festival affords them this opportunity and gives them a glimpse of ’setting their own stage’ in the music world and the continued preparation needed in obtaining their dreams.”

The fourth annual “Dean’s Concert Series” will officially open this year’s festival on Feb. 21, featuring the JSU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Loretta Galbreath, along with the Faculty Jazz Quintet. This exciting program titled “An Evening of Jazz” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

On Friday afternoon, the festival will continue with junior and senior high competitions and will conclude on Saturday morning with elementary (grades 1-6) competition. The closing awards program will begin at noon Saturday, Feb. 23.

For more information, call 601-979-2141.