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The William Knabe Piano Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 2016 with a mission to raise awareness about the cultural significance of the piano in America. At the Knabe Institute, founder and president, Dr. Jarl Hulbert, continues the mission that he helped create as coordinator of the discontinued William Kapell International Piano Competition. While drawing attention to the role of the piano in American history, the Knabe Institute's events also highlight today's young pianists, and invest in the pianists of tomorrow.
The inaugural Knabe Young Artist Piano Competition, held in June 2016, featured young pianists from Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, and Virginia. Dr. Jarl Hulbert founded and directed the William Kapell Young Artist Competition in 2012 and based the Knabe Young Artist Competition on that work. The 2017 Knabe Young Artist Competition, slightly expanded over the 2016 event, allowed video applications and included special events in honor of William Knabe's 180th anniversary. The First Lady of Maryland, Yumi Hogan was an honored guest, and she presented the Knabe Competition with a Governor's Citation. 2018 saw a significant expansion, with applications requiring video, a concerto round, and nearly $10,000 in prize money. The 2019 competition includes categories for pianists aged 18-25, in addition to the categories for the younger performers. Planned future events include a Symposium (projected to take place in 2020), which will celebrate America's rich cultural past, including the Knabe Institute's namesake, William Knabe. The essential role of Baltimore-based piano builder William Knabe in the cultural development of the piano is not as widely recognized as it should be. The Knabe Symposium will explore the cultural history of the piano in America, including William Knabe's role, and will feature presentations by scholars on the development of American pianism. |
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*Please note: the William Knabe Piano Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is separate and independent from the William Knabe Piano Company, which is currently owned by the Samick Music Corporation.
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