A musical education happens with time, practice and inspiration.

At West Virginia University, students labor over pianos, violins, drums and all the rest. Their professors are at their side, guiding them down the long road to a career.

And then there are the times when the stars of the arts world come to them. The visit by Leon Fleisher this year was one of those. Fleisher, a legendary pianist, gave a master class to WVU students and those who participated in the first Keyboard Festival held at the University.

This video shows how students imbibe the most refined of techniques from Fleisher. The students depicted are Alvin Zhu of The Juilliard School, the student who won first place in the college classical competition, and Richard Shin of the Gilman School, who won first place in the high school classical competition.

Students will have another chance to work alongside the masters at the second annual Keyboard Festival to be held June 24-28 at the Creative Arts Center with jazz pianist Dean Haerle and classical pianist Ann Schein.

Pianists are not the only ones to be so enriched. Last year, students danced alongside former cast members of So You Think You Can Dance, and throughout the year students at the College of Creative Arts have opportunities to learn from the experts in their field.

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CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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