Lee Piano Competition Begins Tomorrow

Opening ceremonies for the Lee Piano Competition will feature a recital by competition guest artist Dr. Steven Spooner, concert pianist and associate professor of piano at the University of Kansas, at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Kresge Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

The “Audience Choice” recital will be dedicated to Vladimir Horowitz. The program’s pieces will be determined by votes taken in the concert hall — whichever program gets the most votes will be the one performed by Spooner.

The eighth biennial Lee Piano Competition, the premier competition for K-12 pianists, will feature three divisions and more than $6,500 in prizes. The competition will be Friday and Saturday in the Humanities Building on Augustana’s campus.

Named in honor of the late J. Earl Lee, professor of music from 1931-1992, and his wife, the late Clara Lee, professor of speech from 1952-1989, the Lee Piano Competition is funded through generous gifts of Karl O. Lee and his mother, Agnes Lee.