Professional Background:
American pianist Kay Zavislak enjoys a teaching and performing career shaped by an international upbringing. Spending her formative years in Japan, Kay attended the Toho Gakuen High School of Music, one of the most prestigious conservatories in Japan. From 1996 to 2007, Kay resided in Michigan where she earned the degrees Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan.
As a performer, Kay has given solo recitals and chamber concerts extensively in Idaho, Michigan, and Washington, in addition to public performances in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Australia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, and Poland.
In 2001, Kay was named a winner of the concerto competition at the University of Michigan. Her other awards include first prize in the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle Competition for Young Professionals, second prize in the Richardson Young Artist Award Competition, second prize in the All-Tohoku Piano Competition in Japan, and third prize in the William Byrd International Concerto Competition. Among the scholarships and fellowships she has received are the Benning Dexter Scholarship for Piano, Elsie Gardner Stanley Piano Scholarship, Joseph Brinkman Memorial Scholarship, Alice Kern Pedagogy Award, and a University of Michigan Graduate Fellowship.
Kay is currently an Assistant Professor of Piano and the Keyboard Area Coordinator at the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music. Prior to her appointment at the University of Idaho, Kay held positions at Schoolcraft College, Albion College, the University of Michigan, and Western Washington University.
Kay has studied piano under the guidance of Arthur Greene, Logan Skelton, Yoshie Kora, and Miyoko Hamamoto, harpsichord with Edward Parmentier, and organ with Marilyn Mason.