The 45th Annual Piano Festival of the
AMERICAN MATTHAY ASSOCIATION

The Matthay Festival is designed to offer participants direct and concentrated access to the Matthay teaching principles as they apply at all levels, including that of the performing artist. Daytime sessions include lectures, demonstrations, performances, and master classes, and a recital is held each evening. On Wednesday, June 19, the program will also feature the annual Clara Wells Scholarship Auditions.

The year 2002 marks the forty-fifth annual gathering. Previous Matthay Festivals have taken place at many locations throughout North America, including Philips Academy at Andover, the University of Maryland, the University of Central Florida, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, San Jose State University, Williams College, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Kansas.

Festival Location

Columbus State University, with an enrollment of 5500 and a faculty of 210, is located in Columbus, Georgia, a city of 364,000, conveniently situated near I-185 approximately 105 miles southwest of Atlanta. All Festival events will be held in the University's new $58 million RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, the home of the nationally recognized Schwob Department of Music. Located in the heart of uptown Columbus, this world-class facility offers a 2000-seat hall for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and touring attractions, a 450-seat recital hall which houses a magnificent 3600-pipe, 65-rank Jordan Concert Organ, and an intimate 150-seat studio theater. Uptown Columbus is a major historical, financial, and commercial center offering many museums and other unique cultural and leisure opportunities. The RiverCenter is also located near the city's beautiful Riverwalk, which overlooks the banks of the picturesque Chattahoochee River.

Festival participants are responsible for securing their own lodging arrangements, but two area establishments are offering special conference rates to those attending the 2002 Matthay Festival:


A block of rooms has been reserved at the Howard Johnson Express Inn, 1011 Veterans Parkway, Columbus 31901; phone (706) 322-6641, Fax (706) 322-1999. To obtain the preferred rate of $50 per night (1 bed per room) or $55 per night (2 beds per room), guests should identity themselves as Matthay Festival participants. The room price includes a complimentary breakfast. A convenient walk from the RiverCenter, the Howard Johnson Inn is extremely clean and comfortable.




Participants desiring more luxurious accommodations may contact the historic Columbus Hilton, 800 Front Avenue, Columbus 31901; phone (706) 324-1800, which is located directly across the street from the RiverCenter. The Hilton rate to Festival participants is $79 a night.

The banquet has been scheduled for Friday Evening, June 21, in Rankin Hall on the second floor of the historic Rankin Arts Center located directly across the street from the RiverCenter. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served at 5:15 pm with a dinner buffet at 6:00 pm. The buffet menu includes Country Captain Chicken (a traditional Columbus dish of specially seasoned chicken over a bed of rice), vegetables, salad and dessert. The fee for banquet attendance is $22.00, including tax and gratuity.

The Columbus Metropolitan Airport is served by three major airlines: Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA: The Delta Connection), Northwest Airlines, and US Air. Ground transportation is also available from the Atlanta airport through Groome Transportation (706) 324-3939 for $32 one way and $45 round-trip. Cab fare from the Columbus metropolitan airport to the conference hotels in uptown Columbus is about $9.