NWU Piano Day-Festival

Celebration of the USA’s 250 Anniversary: All-American Composers

Nebraska Wesleyan University presents the 3rd Annual NWU Piano Day-Festival, a three-day event for NWU piano students and pianists ages 11-17. Participants will immerse themselves in high-level instruction, masterclasses, and performance opportunities.

We are honored to welcome guest artist Mackenzie Melemed, Steinway Artist and recipient of the 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant. A Juilliard graduate who studied with Robert McDonald and Emanuel Ax, Melemed has been praised by The New York Times as “an excellent young pianist.”

Guided by NWU piano faculty Feifei Jiang, D.M.A. and Peter Jiang, D.M.A., the festival offers concerts, workshops, and performance opportunities that connect students with distinguished artists and elevate their artistry.

Registration Information

Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged. 

Fees

• Early bird: $69 if registered by February 20, 2026
• Standard: $79 from February 21–March 17, 2026 

Register for the Piano Day-Festival

Registration closes Tuesday, March 17.

Schedule of Events

Friday, April 17

• 1 p.m. – Festival opening session and guest artist lecture
• 2:30 p.m. – Masterclass for NWU college piano students with the guest artist
• 3 p.m. – Piano duo masterclass for all Piano Festival students with Dr. Peter Jiang
• 7 p.m. – NWU piano faculty concert An evening concert featuring the JF Piano Duo: Dr. Feifei Jiang and Dr. Peter Jiang 

Saturday, April 18

• 9 a.m. – Check-in and tour Meet Steinway Artist Mackenzie Melemed, the NWU Music Department Chair, and piano faculty, followed by a guided tour of the music building.
• 10 a.m. – Masterclasses Begin Each student receives two masterclasses: two individual sessions—one with Mackenzie Melemed and one with Dr. Feifei Jiang
• Noon – Lunch Break
• 2 p.m. – Masterclasses continue
• 7 p.m. - Guest artist recital: Mackenzie Melemed 

Sunday, April 19 — Student Recitals and Closing

• 9:30 a.m. – Student solo piano recital and duet piano recital
• 1 p.m. – Festival closing and certificate ceremony

Guest Artist Mackenzie Melemed

American pianist Mackenzie Melemed, recipient of the 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant, is recognized as one of the most distinctive artists of his generation. Praised by The New York Times as “an excellent young pianist,” he is admired for his nuanced interpretations, technical finesse, and deep artistic insight. 

Born in Massachusetts, Melemed began piano at age four and gave over 500 performances by 13, including appearances at the White House Holiday Open House and a 60-show run in Atlantic City. These formative years fostered his ease on stage and his commitment to sharing music with audiences. 

A laureate of the 2021 American Pianists Awards and the 1st China International Music Competition, he has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony, and Polish Radio Orchestra, and in recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and major festivals across North America, Europe, and Asia. 

A Steinway Artist, Melemed earned his BM, MM, and Artist Diploma at The Juilliard School under Robert McDonald and Emanuel Ax. Known for championing lesser-heard repertoire alongside classical and romantic works, he has premiered Avner Dorman’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and will soon release his debut album featuring Bach, Brahms, Liszt, and new commissions from Sir Stephen Hough, Laura Kaminsky, and Dorman. 

In honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary, he is planning Keys Across America, a landmark recital tour of American piano music. Since 2020, he has lived in Finland, performing with nearly all of the country’s major orchestras and festivals.

JF Piano Duo

JF Piano Duo is the husband-and-wife team of pianists Dr. Feifei Jiang and Dr. Peter Jiang, who began performing together after meeting as college freshmen and have collaborated for nearly two decades. Their concerts feature inventive programming that spans styles and eras, highlighted by a particular affinity for French Impressionism.

Renowned for expressive, finely detailed four-hand performances, the duo’s interpretations of Debussy and Ravel have captivated audiences. In a review of their Amend Family Recital Series appearance, KVOE-FM praised the duo’s artistry and the profound connection they bring to their repertoire.

With a shared commitment to musical excellence, Feifei and Peter bring experience, sensitivity, and collaborative chemistry to every performance—inviting listeners into vivid, deeply felt musical narratives.