Parr performs, conducts master class in China

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Dr. Andrew Parr, professor of piano in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, has performed in countries across the globe.

But he recently had the opportunity to perform and conduct a master class in piano for the first time before audiences in China, and some of those audience members have expressed an interest in coming to the United States, specifically SFA, to study with Parr.

Parr was among a group of SFA music educators who traveled to Hong Kong and Macau earlier this spring for the purpose of building relationships with colleagues there and opening the doors for recruiting music students to come to SFA for their graduate studies.

"This could be very beneficial for SFA in terms of attracting high-level students to study here," Parr said. "We can no longer think regionally when it comes to recruiting students."

Parr performed for piano students and teachers at Hong Kong Baptist University and conducted a master class before an advanced piano class of about 60 students where he listened to four students play and critiqued their performances.

"In Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University is where high-level students go for undergraduate music study," Parr explained. "They are regularly visited by faculty from the U.S. and other countries, and the students are often looking for opportunities to study abroad. SFA would like to be among their choices."

SFA faculty auditioned six students while in Hong Kong, and most of them have pursued discussions about applying to SFA to study and for graduate assistantships and scholarships.

"The hope is to open a conduit that will continue to produce graduate students in the future," Parr said.