A Celebration of Music Education: The Southern Utah Piano Pedagogy Conference and SUU Woodwind Day

Published: January 24, 2025 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 4 minutes

Photo from 2024 Piano Pedagogy Conference.The Southern Utah University Department of Music is pleased to present the Southern Utah Piano Pedagogy Conference in conjunction with SUU Woodwind Day on Saturday, March 1, 2025. These annual events bring together musicians, educators, and students for an inspiring day of masterclasses, performances, and expert-led sessions on SUU's campus.

Southern Utah Piano Pedagogy Conference

The Southern Utah Piano Pedagogy Conference, co-hosted by Utah Tech University, provides essential professional development for piano teachers and students by addressing key challenges in the field and offering strategies for success. This year's conference will focus on building effective piano studying habits, inspiring the best in students, effective practicing techniques, and the benefits of collaboration through playing and learning with others. 

Headshot of Yu-Jane Yang.The featured presenter is Dr. Yu-Jane Yang, a Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor and Director of Keyboard Studies at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. A nationally recognized educator, Dr. Yang was named 2020 MTNA Teacher of the Year, inducted into the Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame in 2021, and awarded the 2023 Utah Governor's Mansion Artist Award. She has performed and taught internationally and has mentored students who have won prestigious national and international competitions.

The registration fee for the Southern Utah Piano Pedagogy Conference is $25, but the event is free for high school and college students. Participants can register at go.suu.edu/pianoped.

SUU Woodwind Day

SUU Woodwind Day is a one-day educational outreach symposium designed for woodwind players of all skill levels. The event includes recitals and masterclasses, including clinics on instrument repair and improvisation, culminating in a festival woodwind ensemble featuring event participants, SUU music students, and the featured guest artist Dr. Jeremy Justeson.

Headshot of Jeremy Justeson.Dr. Jeremy Justeson is Professor of Saxophone at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania and a Selmer Performing Artist. Dr. Justeson has performed at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center, and is a strong advocate for new music. He has premiered numerous compositions, recorded two solo albums, and serves as the Executive Director of the CASE Arts Group, supporting performances and commissions of contemporary works. 

The registration fee for SUU Woodwind Day is $20, and participants can register at go.suu.edu/wwday.

Zion Trio Concert

The day will conclude with a special recital featuring by the Zion Trio. The Zion Trio has been bringing major works from the standard repertoire for piano trio to southern Utah for years. Violinist Paul Abegg is Professor of Music and Director of Strings and Orchestras at Utah Tech University. Originally from Hong Kong, cellist Dr. Ka-Wai Yu is also teaching at Utah Tech and directs the chamber music program for strings. Pianist Christian Bohnenstengel is from southern Germany and serves as Director of Keyboard Studies at Southern Utah University. This concert is free and open to the public, in addition to Piano Pedagogy Conference and Woodwind Day participants.

Whether you are a pianist, woodwind player, teacher, or student, this is an incredible opportunity to refine your skills, learn from industry experts, and connect with fellow musicians. Please join us on March 1, 2025 on the campus of Southern Utah University for what will surely be a celebration of Music Education. For more information about Music at SUU, please visit www.suu.edu/pva/music.

 

About the College of Performing and Visual Arts

The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.


Tags: Music Education Piano Music Woodwind Community College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact Information:

Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu