This summer, a one-of-a-kind, international piano competition and festival is in its sixth year at Colorado State University, giving the public a rare opportunity to hear gifted pianists from around the world. Performances of a Lifetime at the International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival, U.S.A. feature internationally-renowned pianists, including Van Cliburn medalists, in five riveting evening concerts, alongside an Olympic-styled competition for young pianists ages 11-35, including two CSU students.

The term Odyssiad® (pronounced O-dys-si-ad) comes from odyssey, and was coined to signify “A Journey to the Performance of a Lifetime.” From Aug. 1-5, 47 talented pianists will continue their epic journey in Fort Collins, converging on the University Center for the Arts for the semifinal and final rounds of the Odyssiad Competition, having “made the cut” in preliminary rounds held in Dallas, Miami, Korea, three cities in China, and online by video submission.

Performances of a Lifetime: CSU Students Set to Compete

Ty Huey, a sophomore from Denver who holds the College of Liberal Arts’ “Champion an Artist” scholarship.

Two CSU music performance majors were selected anonymously, by video audition, for participation in this year’s competition: Ty Huey, a sophomore from Denver who holds the College of Liberal Arts’ “Champion an Artist” scholarship; and Sicong “Frank” Zhou, a senior piano major from Shanghai, China.

“It is a great honor that they were accepted into the Semifinal Round of the Odyssiad Competition, as they were competing against some of today's finest young pianists," says Dr. Janet Landreth, coordinator of keyboard studies at Colorado State University, and founder of the competition and festival in 2010.

Semifinal and Final Rounds

Sicong “Frank” Zhou, a senior piano major from Shanghai, China.

The semifinal round takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the University Center for the Arts, and is free and open to the public. The two CSU students are among the 47 remaining competitors from fourteen U.S. states and seven countries, including Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cuba, Macedonia, and Turkey.

Both CSU pianists recognize the importance of the selection and are eager to compete. “It is a chance for me to see how I compare to other pianists from all over the world, and to get my name out there as a performer and competitor,” expressed Huey, who has previously only competed in smaller events.

For Zhou, who competed many times in China, the Odyssiad is a chance to hone his competitive skills as he looks ahead to a master’s degree. “Since I plan to…attend more international piano competitions in the near future, this competition will give me some basic ideas about what it feels like to compete in the U.S.,” he explained. “It will be a good opportunity to perfect myself.”

Dr. Janet Landreth, coordinator of keyboard studies at Colorado State University, and founder of the competition and festival

A Worthy Investment

The time Landreth has invested into her students' preparation this summer  has been a pleasure! "They are both enormously talented and both are eager to learn,” said Landreth. “We have great fun in their lessons and laugh a lot because the joy of making music is contagious."

If you wish to cheer on the piano playing Rams on Aug. 1, Zhou competes at 9 a.m. (Level C) in Griffin Concert Hall, and Huey takes his turn at the piano at 1:20 p.m. (Level B) in the Instrumental Rehearsal Hall.

“There is no reason to be in a panic,” states Zhou. “I will be pretty ready for this.” Although he's found preparing stressful and exciting at the same time, Huey agrees! “I've been busy practicing and having lessons to make sure that I'm in tip top shape when I perform in August.”