April 4, 2024
Vol. 24, No. 46
In This Issue FOUR SEASONS
UCO hosting Kuleshov Piano Festival & Competition
Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.
March Madness Final Four See Page 13
PHOTO BY ERIN SMITH
FRIDAY, APRIL 5 Mostly Sunny High 73° Low 54°
SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Partly Cloudy/Wind High 74° Low 54°
SUNDAY, APRIL 7 Sunny High 72° Low 53°
The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music will host the Kuleshov International Piano Festival and Competition April 12-14, at the Radke Fine Arts Theatre on Central’s campus. The three-day festival and competition are split into high school and collegiate divisions and includes public performances from guest artists Nadejda Vlaeva, Valery Kuleshov, and Ilya Shmukler, who also act as jurors for the competition. The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music will host the Kuleshov International Piano Festival and Competition April 12-14, at the Radke Fine Arts Theatre in the Center for Transformative Learning building, located on Central’s campus. The three-day festival and competition are split into high school and collegiate divisions and includes public performances from guest artists Valery Kuleshov, Nadejda Vlaeva and Ilya Shmukler, who also act as jurors for the competition. “The caliber of the contestants this year is phenomenal,” said Sallie Pollack D.M.A., UCO School of Music professor and director of the competition. “The excitement of hearing this level of young talent coupled with performances of top guest artists will make this weekend a highlight of the year for audiences.” Award-winning pianist, composer and recording artist Nadejda Vlaeva will perform at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 12, in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre. Vlaeva has performed internationally, including at Carnegie Zankel Hall, the Rose Hall in Lincoln Center, the Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai and The Concertgebouw in the Netherlands. She currently divides her time between New York and Europe. Ilya Shmukler, a laureate of numerous international piano competitions, will present a recital at 7:30 p.m.,
Saturday, April 13, in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre. Shmukler completed his master’s degree with honors at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 2021, and presently studies with Stanislav Ioudenitch at the International Center for Music at Park University in Parkville, Missouri. Valery Kuleshov, the competition’s namesake and UCO School of Music’s artist-in-residence since 1992, will perform at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 14, in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre. Kuleshov, an honored artist of the Russian Federation, boasts multiple awards and medals, having performed in prestigious concert halls worldwide. All three concerts are free and open to the public thanks to the generous funding provided by the Harold and Juanita Swigeart Endowment and the Dr. Peter Springberg and Mrs. Lynnette Jung-Springberg Endowment. The competition portion of the event will culminate with the final round of competition, award presentations and a closing reception at 7 p.m., Sunday, April 14, in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre. For a complete schedule of events, go.uco.edu/Kuleshov. For more information about UCO College of Fine Arts and Design events, visit cfad.uco.edu.