25th Annual Harold Protsman Classical Period Piano Competition Set for March 17

Fifty-six young pianists from Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., South Carolina, Ohio and New York will compete for prizes of more than $5,500 in the 25th Annual Harold Protsman Classical Period Piano Competition at Old Dominion University Saturday, March 17.

Competition finals - open to the public without charge - will begin at 2:30 p.m. in Chandler Recital Hall of the Diehn Center for the Performing Arts. The 15 finalists, from preschoolers to college undergraduates, will be grouped in five advancement levels and judged by renowned pianist and teacher, Andrew Willis. A master class with Willis for selected competition winners will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 18.

In 2007, the ODU Classical Period Piano Competition was renamed in honor of Professor Emeritus Harold Protsman in recognition of his many years of dedication, professionalism and service to both the competition and the ODU music department.

The competition is funded, in part, by the F. Ludwig Diehn Fund of The Norfolk Foundation and by generous gifts from Helen and Warren Aleck.

The Diehn Concert Series will feature Willis in a fortepiano recital at 8 p.m. Monday, March 19, in Chandler Recital Hall. Along with solo piano works of Felix Mendelssohn, Willis will perform the Mozart Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488, with the ODU Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Lucy Manning.

Tickets for the Diehn Concert are $15 for general admission and $10 for students. To order tickets call 3-5305 or visit http://al.odu.edu/al/about/ticket_events.shtml.