The School of Piano Technology for the Blind will host two events in June focused on celebrating the achievements of staff and students both past and present. There will be an Open House on Thursday, June 9, 2016 and Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 10, 2016. The events are free and open to the public.
The Thursday Open House, honoring longtime staff members Bunny Dees and Diane Hadley, also provides an opportunity for the community to meet the School’s alumni, staff, and students, and offers a sneak peek at this year’s Keys to the City pianos. The open house will run from 4 to 6 p.m. with lively entertainment and complimentary light refreshments available.
On Friday, the School’s 2016 Commencement Ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. in the Emil Fries Auditorium of the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB). Retiring WSSB Superintendent Dean Stenehjem will serve as keynote speaker for the ceremony which will honor the School’s 2016 graduates Justin Dixson and Stefan Kincaid.
Dixson, a native of Iowa, holds a Bachelor’s in Music from Sioux City’s Morningside College. He plans to return to the Quad Cities area and establish a piano tuning business. Dixson has thoroughly enjoyed his time at the school, appreciates the training he received, and will miss Vancouver.
Kincaid grew up in Skaneateles, NY, and attended Crane School of Music at State University of New York. While a student here, he starred as Trekkie Monster in the Clark College Theater production of Avenue Q. He plans to remain in the area and intern both at the school and with music stores in the area to fine-tune and expand upon his piano technology skills.
