Unfortunately, Heidi needed to cancel the event for this Saturday. We’ll keep you updated, and hope to see her again soon!
Schmitt Music presents a special lecture recital with Doctor of Musical Arts candidate Heidi Astle Worsham at Schmitt Music Kansas City on Saturday, November 23 at 1:30PM – Free and open to the public!
Heidi is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate from the University of Iowa and will be presenting a lecture recital on the optimal performance practice of the 24 Preludes of Frederic Chopin, Op. 28. The program will end with a complete performance of the set.
Seating is limited, so please let us know if you plan to attend. Call 913-663-4756 or email us at kckb@schmittmusic.com to RSVP.
Heidi Astle Worsham grew up in Northern California in a house filled with music. At the age of six she began piano lessons with her older sister and was excited to learn this new language called music. Shortly after, Heidi began studying with Katherine Svistoonoff where she was challenged in every way and progressed immensely. She became familiar with difficult repertoire and laid a technical foundation that would never leave her. When Svistoonoff moved the search for a great teacher began again and ended with world renowned artist- Natsuki Fukasawa. Being one of the youngest students to be admitted into her studio, Heidi gained a deep understanding of tone, artistry, and musicality. She was a frequent prize winner in the Memorial Scholarship Competition, the Auburn Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition, and the U.S. Open Piano Competition.
Although she had been highly trained in piano, Heidi had many other interests at the same time including various sports, dance, and violin. In fact, these interested her so much more than piano that when beginning high school she quit piano altogether and decided to focus on her passion- basketball. She was made Captain of the Varsity Basketball Team, along with being very involved with her mother’s choir class and keeping a standard of academic excellence. She could only stay away so long though, and near the end of her senior year she took up the piano again and realized how much she had missed it.
In the first week of attending Brigham Young University as an undergraduate, Heidi decided she wanted to major in Piano Performance and was admitted 4 months later. Being the 5th in her family to earn a music degree, she studied with Dr. Irene Peery-Fox and quickly rose to the top as she was inspired by piano music every day. Receiving both academic and music scholarships, Heidi was also the recipient of the prestigious Reid Nibley Piano Scholarship for the 2011-2012 school year. This scholarship is awarded to only three pianists per year who show extreme commitment and dedication to the fields of both piano playing and teaching, along with extreme proficiency. Through her degree Heidi played in masterclasses with guest artists, was an MTNA officer for the school, and was asked to perform at BYU’s Convocation ceremony.
Heidi completed her Master’s degree in Piano Performance at the University of Iowa in May 2014. Upon her audition for the program she was awarded a Teaching Assistantship which included a full tuition scholarship, stipend, and invaluable opportunities to teach at the college level. Her Master’s degree included performing chamber music with guest artists, placing as Alternate in the MTNA State competition, serving as the Vice President for the student MTNA chapter, and being nominated for the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. She is currently working to complete her Doctor of Musical Arts degree also from the University of Iowa in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, where she again was awarded a Teaching Assistantship. She currently resides in Overland Park, KS.
Along with piano, Heidi has a passion for singing and choral music. In her time at BYU she was a member of the school’s top touring choir, the BYU Singers, where she was both the Alto section leader and accompanist. She also spent a semester abroad studying British Choral Music and has made choral conducting the secondary area of her doctoral degree. Heidi loves doing pretty much anything with her husband Sam, along with reading, learning, spending time with family, playing sports, cooking, telling jokes, and helping people learn.
