BATESVILLE, Arkansas — Lyon College will welcome world-renowned pianist Dr. Teresa Walters for a special concert on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m. in Sloan Auditorium, located in the Brown Fine Arts Building on the Batesville campus, 2300 Highland Rd.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Dr. Walters, recognized as “The International First Lady of Piano” by The New York Times, is donating this performance in support of the Lyon College Music department. In addition to her concert, Dr. Walters will lead a masterclass on Monday, Oct. 21, with Lyon College pianists Paige Howell and Vera Richardson.
Growing up in the American Midwest, Dr. Walters began playing piano at age four and has since performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall in London, the Salle Cortot in Paris and the Great Hall of Moscow.
Whether performing for European royalty at Esterházy Palace or raising funds for children’s charities in Delhi, Dr. Walters brings inspiration and joy to audiences worldwide. During the 2020 pandemic, she uplifted spirits with her video series “Music for Hope and Healing” and combined her love for nature and music in her “Lakehouse Video Series.” As international tours resumed in 2021-22, she performed in Amsterdam, Singapore, St. Petersburg and South Africa.
In celebration of Franz Liszt’s Bicentennial, Dr. Walters gave a gala recital at Copenhagen’s Hungarian Embassy and at Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall. Her recent “Celebrating Our World” tour, honoring shared heritage and humanity, garnered praise across the globe, as did her 500th Birthday Party recital series, which commemorated the Reformation’s Quincentennial.
An International Steinway Artist, Dr. Walters earned her doctorate from the Peabody Conservatory and was awarded an international fellowship for study in Paris. She resides in the New York City area with her husband and two beloved cats, Maxine and Cocopuff Chanel, while enjoying a lakeside cottage filled with abundant wildlife.
The Lyon College concert will cap off ScotsFest, the annual Arkansas Scottish Festival and Lyon College Homecoming celebration, set for Friday through Sunday, Oct. 18-20, on the Lyon College campus.
For more information about ScotsFest, please visit arscottishfest.com.
Karin Huffman is an Independence County native who graduated from Cushman High School in 1996. Traveling throughout the state is one of her passions, along with writing about her adventures.
Taking over as travel writer for the Ozark Gateway Region is a dream come true for Huffman who lives in the region with her two daughters, Grace and Stella.
As a family, they enjoy canoeing the Poke Bayou, Salado Creek and the many waterways along the White River in Independence County. Camping and hiking throughout the region is a must for them in the spring and fall as well.
Huffman is an avid nature photographer who will do just about anything to find the perfect waterfall shot, and has visited many in the great state. From Twin Falls and the Richland Creek area in Northwest Arkansas to little known places off the beaten path, waterfalls will be found.
Huffman has been a travel writer for the Eye on Independence Magazine as well as a staff writer for the Batesville Guard, and is looking forward to devoting her time to traveling throughout the eight county region that the Ozark Gateway offers.
If you would like to contact Huffman about an adventure or would like to know how to get more information out about your area, contact her at 870-307-5473, karinhuffman78@gmail.com or karinozarkgateway@sbcglobal.net.