KU News Release

Crystal Lam

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More Information

• School of Music

LAWRENCE — Crystal Lam, a doctoral student in music at the University of Kansas, won the West Central Division Young Artist Piano Competition sponsored by the Music Teachers National Association.

As part of her prize, Lam will compete in the national finals on March 28 in Milwaukee, Wis.

Michael Bret Cooper, a junior majoring in horn performance, placed as alternate at the competition, which was held Jan. 16 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Lam, who studies under professors Jack Winerock and Scott McBride Smith, has won a number of awards and prizes, including first prize at the 2006 Asian Youth Music Competition in Shanghai and second prize at the 2005 International Chopin Piano Competition in Tokyo. She received the Judith Soloman Piano Award in Chamber Music at Texas Christian University in 2009-10. In summer 2010, she performed in the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts “Best Pianists” fundraising concerts for the 25th anniversary of the school. She was selected as a winner of the KU Concerto Competition and performed with the KU Symphony Orchestra in February. Lam earned a bachelor’s degree from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2008. She went on to complete a master’s degree at Texas Christian University. She is a graduate of Cedar Park (Texas) High School.

Cooper is the son of Nikki and Earl Cooper of Bonner Springs and a graduate of Bonner Springs High School.