This is your 30th year of teaching piano at TCU. What are some of the highlights for you?

The students and my fellow faculty members. They are a delight to work with. The School of Music has grown so much during the time and that is because of the quality of the faculty. They’re artists who love teaching. That makes TCU a very special place.

What led you to create a summer piano festival?

When I came here, there was nothing in the summer. Of course, every four years, the Van Cliburn Competition brought the world’s best pianists to our city to judge the performances. But when they we’re not listening to the contestants, they did not have anything to do. It felt like a waste. I sensed opportunity to bring them over to TCU or bring my students to them. Lili Kraus, who was a Cliburn juror at that time, was the first to work with my students, and many others followed.

What do you enjoy most about Piano Texas?

The teaching time. I enjoy working with the amateurs as much as I do the students. They are eager to learn and have such appreciation for classical music. Their concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra is a highlight every year. We’re very fortunate to have such a strong relationship with the symphony.

Most people don’t realize that Piano Texas is more than concerts and performances. You’ve even added nonmusical events, such as sessions on practice habits and the business aspects of the classical music world.

The students wanted to do more than just attend concerts. At the same time, we thought there was potential for growth and development among the students beyond performance. They can benefit from learning about travel and what is required to be a professional in classical music. We have had hand specialists meet with them about the medical implications of piano playing. We have had psychologists lecture on handling performance stress.

What is in store for future Piano Texas festivals?

We need to continue to establish Piano Texas’ identity. It was called the TCU/Cliburn Institute until just a few years ago. The Cliburn name is so powerful around the world. It’s gold when it comes to fundraising. But the name change was an opportunity to develop our own identity and increase TCU’s profile around the world.