SHAWNEE—High school pianists from across the region are invited to attend the 2026 Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) Keyboard Academy, set for Oct. 23-24 on OBU’s Shawnee campus.
The annual event offers lessons with OBU piano faculty, workshops and performances. This year’s featured guests are the Brickle Duo, pianist Dr. David Brickle and violinist Dr. Marianna Brickle, who will present a concert on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Dr. David Brickle will lead a piano master class on Saturday, Oct. 24.
“The event provides students with an opportunity to prepare for auditions and festivals, work with college faculty and guest artists and enjoy meeting other students passionate about the piano in a two-day, in-depth study experience,” said Dr. Mark Franklin, Burton H. Patterson Professor of Music, assistant professor of music and coordinator of keyboard studies.
Dr. David Brickle serves as associate professor of music at Milligan University, where he teaches piano and music theory. He has performed widely throughout the continental United States, Puerto Rico and internationally in Europe and has appeared in a variety of broadcasts, including National Public Radio’s “Performance Today” and ETV Radio’s “On the Keys.” He regularly serves on the faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and has taught at the MasterWorks Festival and the FSU Summer Piano Institute. He has won numerous honors and awards.
Dr. Marianna Brickle is an orchestral and chamber musician, recitalist, and educator based in Johnson City, Tennessee. She serves as adjunct professor of violin at East Tennessee State University and performs with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. In the summer, she is on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. Recently, she has performed with the Vienna Light Orchestra and has been credited for her playing on Benson Boone’s album Fireworks and Rollerblades and the Norah Jones and John Legend single “Summertime Blue.”
The academy includes interactive demonstrations on organ and harpsichord, individual lessons and a student recital. On-campus lodging is provided Friday night for participants who select that option. Registration is $25 and includes a Keyboard Academy T-shirt. The deadline to register is Oct. 16. To register, visit https://bit.ly/4xGQZ1L.
Saturday’s schedule features breakfast with student hosts, individual lessons and group workshops from 8 to 11 a.m., lunch from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m., the master class from noon to 1:30 p.m., organ and harpsichord demonstrations from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., recital preparation from 2:30 to 3 p.m., and the student recital from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
Students who cannot attend may request a trial lesson with OBU piano faculty by emailing Franklin at mark.franklin@okbu.edu. For more information, contact Franklin at mark.franklin@okbu.edu.
