Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will host pianist Olga Krayterman, 2013 National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artist winner, in concert Tuesday, Sept.16. The concert, set for 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall, is free to the public.

The NFMC Young Artist Award is a professional competition for piano, string, wind instrument and voice. Contestants between the ages of 18 and 30 compete on three different levels over a course of several months. This year’s award recipient will begin a tour in September featuring appearances at several Arkansas universities, including Ouachita.

Krayterman, a Belarussian-born American and accomplished performer of solo and chamber repertoire, began her piano study at age six. She has participated in music festivals in Canada, France, Spain and several locations in the United States.

In addition to being named the winner of the 2013 Young Artist Award, she also earned first place at the Concours International de Piano du Moulin d’Andé in France, Southeastern Piano Festival in South Carolina, the Stravinsky Competition and third prize at the Thousand Island International Piano Competition. Along with her solo performance work, Krayterman has a strong interest in collaborative work and recently has paired with vocalists, violinists and the Medusa Trio.

“The Young Artist Series concerts give inspiration and encouragement to our students each year,” said Dr. Gary Gerber, chair of Ouachita’s Division of Music. “To see and hear music performed at the highest caliber will hopefully in turn help our students to become better musicians.” Gerber said that Ouachita students are fortunate to have the opportunity to hear these types of performances.

Krayterman immigrated with her family to the U.S. in 1995 and continued her musical education in Cincinnati, Ohio. She made her orchestral debut at age 17 playing Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto. She earned her bachelor’s degree with high distinction in 2008 and her master’s degree in 2010 at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., where she currently is completing her Doctor in Piano Performance and Literature degree with a minor in music theory. She also teaches piano at the Eastman Community Music School.

For more information, contact Gary Gerber at 870-245-5128 or [email protected].