Music Major & Minor
Truman State University’s Piano Program offers a breadth of exciting opportunities for performers, scholars, and future music educators who want to make an impact on the world. Our unique learning environment is dedicated to the art of piano performance providing the perfect place to let your talent shine.
Performance Opportunities
As a music major or minor, you will work closely with compelling and supportive piano faculty in private instruction, studio classes, and chamber music coaching. Solo and chamber music performances are presented throughout the year by students, faculty, and visiting artists. Also, student pianists are invited to compete in Truman’s annual Gold Medal Competition for the opportunity to perform concerto movements with the University Symphony Orchestra. The beautifully designed and acoustically adjusted Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall houses two nine-foot Steinway grand pianos. Additionally, practice rooms with Steinway grands are available for reserved times for piano majors.
Investing in Your Education
Truman’s piano scholarship program provides two important awards. Our annual Piano Festival, which is held on the third Saturday of February, features the competition that determines these two awards. The most prestigious is the Truman Piano Fellowship, eight semesters of full tuition, room, and board. Also, at the Truman Piano Festival a second award of $1,000 per year for four years is offered.
Featured guest artists at the Truman Piano Festival include: Dr. Robert Carney (Southwest Baptist University, 2018), Dr. Joshua Pifer (Auburn University, 2017), Dr. Lisa Yui (Manhattan School of Music, 2016), Dr. Pamela Mia Paul (University of North Texas, 2015), Dr. Brian Hsu (Loyola University – New Orleans, 2014), Dr. Nicholas Roth (Drake University, 2013).
At the graduate level, $8,000 Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantships are awarded to outstanding students who are pursuing the degree, Master of Arts in Music. These awards also include a full-tuition waiver. For pianists, GTRA assignments are available in accompanying, class piano, and in applied piano.
For more information about the Piano Studio at Truman, please contact Dr. David McKamie or Dr. Lok Ng.
Hannah Gallamore receives Grand PrizeMarch 16, 2020
Graduate percussion student, Hannah Gallamore, received the Grand Prize at the 13th Annual Missouri Percussive Arts Marimba Competition, collegiate division. The competition took place Fri-Sat., March 6-7th at the Cowan Civic Center, Lebanon, Missouri. Guest Adjudicator for the event was internationally-renowned marimba artist, Svet Stoyanov. Hannah competed against students from throughout the Midwest, hailing from […]
Guest Percussion Trio ConcertNovember 4, 2019
The percussion trio TROIKA will perform a guest artist concert at 8 p.m. Nov. 8 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. Originally from New York City, the trio specializes in performances of new works for percussion written by some of today’s most innovative composers. In addition to traditional percussion instruments, they will be utilizing an array […]