Union to Host Second Annual Southeastern Kentucky Piano Festival May 1-2

David Saylor • March 12, 2026

Dr. Yukiko Fujimura on stage in Conway Boatman Chapel with her UCU piano class.

After a successful debut last year, the Southeastern Kentucky Piano Festival is returning bigger and better to Union Commonwealth University (UCU). Set for May 1-2 in Conway Boatman Chapel, this year’s festival will feature the same core events that made the inaugural gathering such a success, including a youth recital competition, guest performances, and a master class where all ages are welcome to attend.

Last year’s festival welcomed 30 young pianists from across the region, many of whom left energized by the feedback they received and eager to keep practicing.

“I’m just so excited to have them back and to see their musical development over the year,” said Festival Artistic Director and UCU Assistant Professor of Music, Dr. Yukiko Fujimura.

This year, Fujimura is excited to welcome new participants along with a new adjudicator, Dr. Asher Armstrong, a pianist and educator at the University of Toronto whose performance career includes appearances across Europe and North America. Armstrong has released three solo albums on the Blue Griffin label and will join the festival for the first time, bringing extensive international experience as both an adjudicator and a master class artist.

[PHOTO: Dr. Asher Armstrong]

The adjudication team will also include Dr. Kris Rucinski, who is returning for a second year. Rucinski, a Professor of Piano at the University of the Cumberlands, is known for his commitment to new and overlooked repertoire, a focus that has led him to commission and premiere numerous contemporary works. His performance career includes a variety of solo and multimedia projects that highlight both his artistic versatility and his dedication to bringing lesser-heard music to wider audiences.

Both adjudicators will be performing during the festival’s awards ceremony on Saturday, giving students, families, and community members the chance to hear them live. Last year’s guest performances were featured during the Friday student recital, while this year’s will be presented on Saturday as part of the awards ceremony.

[PHOTO: Dr. Kris Rucinski]

This year also introduces a new opportunity for top‑scoring students to be recommended for the Kentucky Music Teachers Association (KMTA) State Honors Recital at the University of Kentucky in September. This opportunity is made possible through a new partnership with the Virtual Kentucky Music Teachers Association (VKMTA), a local chapter of KMTA, where Fujimura serves as president.

Events are free and open to the public. Participants for the judged recital will need to pay an application fee of $30. For those unable to pay, a limited number of scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a scholarship, email Fujimura at yfujimura@unionky.edu. Recipients will still need to pay the fee upfront but scholarships will be issued as refunds after the festival. The full event schedule is listed below:

Friday, May 1, 2026

6 p.m. – UCU Piano Student Recital

(Featuring current UCU piano students; open to the public)

Saturday, May 2, 2026

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Judged Recitals

*Apply at www.unionky.edu/pianofestival by Wednesday, April 1, 2026

1 p.m. – 2 p.m. – Master Class (open to participants and observers)

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony & Guest Artist Performance

*Times are approximate and may vary depending on the number of entries

For more information about the Southeastern Kentucky Piano Festival or to apply for the application fee scholarship, contact Dr. Yukiko Fujimura at yfujimura@unionky.edu. To apply for the judged recital, fill out the application at www.unionky.edu/pianofestival.

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