Piano History

The history of the KU Piano Area is also a musical history of the state of Kansas itself.

The first KU Dean of Fine Arts, William MacDonald, was a pianist who established the Department of Music in 1884 as well as founder and first president of the Kansas Music Teachers Association.

In 1923 Donald Swarthout, a pianist and conductor, was appointed Dean of Fine Arts until 1950 and served as President of the Music Teachers National Association and Director of the KU Concert & Chamber Series, which became the foundation of the arts programming for the Lied Center.

The appointment of the renowned composer and pianist Carl A. Preyer in 1903 marked the beginning of a distinguished roster of musicians who have served as faculty members of the KU Division of Piano.

A list of former faculty members since 1934 includes

Jane Abbott
Dennis Alexander
Richard Angeletti
Jan Chiapusso
Leon Fleisher
Malcolm Frager
Claude Frank
Thomas Gorton
Gary Graffman
Christopher Hepp
Byron Janis
Stephen Kort
Roy Hamlin Johnson
Robert Koenig
John Perry
Menachem Pressler
Richard Reber
Carole Ross
Angelica Morales von Sauer
Ramon Salvatore
Flora Silini
Martha Stacey
Nelita True
Robert Ward
Jack Winerock

Alumni

The University of Kansas has graduated many piano students whose career aspirations have led them to musical success in professional, business and academic venues.