Four undergraduate piano majors from the Glenn Korff School of Music traveled this summer to participate in the Piano Plus Summer Institute in Xanthi, Greece, June 30-July 7.
Marguerite Scribante Professor of Piano Paul Barnes also taught and performed at the institute, which is organized by Glenn Korff School of Music alumnus Andreas Xenopoulos (D.M.A. 2014).
Seniors Luke Eckles and Kevin Lloyd and incoming freshmen Duy Nguyen and Seth Johnson attended the institute.
“For all four of these undergraduates, it was their first trip to Europe, and I was so proud of how they presented themselves,” Barnes said. “They were great ambassadors for the Glenn Korff School of Music. Highlights included listening to all of their wonderful performances in the final student recitals, as well as my own faculty recital I gave on Wednesday evening of the festival. Our hike in the mountains of Greece was invigorating, and the warmth of the Greek people were overwhelming—not to mention the fabulous food.”
Barnes said participating in the festival was beneficial for the students.
“They received valuable instruction from wonderful faculty from around the globe, and they got to meet other piano students that are also pursuing beauty,” he said.
Lloyd, a music education senior from Bellevue, Nebraska, said he had wanted to attend the institute for a while, but hadn’t had the chance to do it in previous years.
“Having the opportunity to go with one of my colleagues and friends in piano, Luke Eckles, was a huge deciding factor in my decision in going,” he said. “It also was a great opportunity to explore a place outside of the United States. I learned a lot, and I made a lot of connections that will last a lifetime.”
Nguyen was also eager to attend.
“I wanted to attend this camp because of Dr. Barnes’ recommendation, as well as the great things I’ve heard about the camp via my older brother,” Nguyen said. “This was my first time in Europe.”
Nguyen, an incoming music and finance major from Lees Summit, Missouri, loved the trip.
“Some highlights for me included the food and sightseeing I did over the week,” he said. “I got to work with Dr. Barnes, Dr. [Jasmin] Arakawa, Dr. [Lambis] Vassiliadis, as well as Dr. [Robert] Satterlee. I had a recital on Sunday, as well as a masterclass on Wednesday that I performed in.”
His masterclass was with Robert Satterlee, a professor at Bowling Green State University.
“The masterclass was super fun and insightful,” Nguyen said. “I got to play for Professor Satterlee and performed Chopin’s G minor Ballade. The feedback was a major reason for my improvement that I saw throughout the week.”
Lloyd appreciated the opportunity to do sightseeing in Thessaloniki on June 29.
“The sights we got to see included the White Tower, the Agios Dimitros Church, the Holy Church of Hagia Sophia and the Holy Metropolitan Church of Saint Gregory Palamas,” he said. “These sights were very grand and really spoke to me about what humanity did and still could achieve in art. Hiking near the Nestos River was also a big part of the trip, as I got to see natural habitats that aren’t really found in Lincoln or my hometown.”
Lloyd also studied with Vassiliadis, Arakawa and Satterlee, as well as Barnes and Grigorios Zamparas. He also had a performance during the final student recital.
“The pianists we met were mainly from the U.S. or from Greece,” he said. “The pianists from Greece were all amazing to meet, and it was refreshing to see them perform and learn from masterclasses.”
Nguyen appreciated the opportunity to study abroad.
“Studying abroad is important to understand more about the world around you and to see more cultures that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to,” he said. “It was interesting to meet other pianists from around the world. I got to understand a bit more about Greek culture that I previously did not know. I feel like I got to understand more about how different the Greek style of teaching piano is compared to Western teaching styles.”
He also appreciated the sightseeing they were able to do.
“I mainly looked around the streets of Xanthi and went ot the rivers and mountains,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen would recommend the experience for other pianists.
“It will be a great memory to have for the rest of your life,” he said.
Lloyd recommends the trip.
“I will never forget the time I had going to Greece as I have made so many connections that will last a lifetime and learned so much in ways that I haven’t really considered before,” he said. “My lasting memory of Greece will be one that is extremely fulfilling and deeply meaningful. My time in Greece was spent in good taste, and I hope to return someday.”
