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The Park University International Center for Music is quietly raising the next generation of world-class musicians. Founded by Stanislav Ioudenitch, the school is modeled after the classic European master and apprentice system. Ioudenitch, an elite pianist and the artistic director of Park ICM, is dedicated to his mission of transforming exceptional students into masters—using time, tools, and the dedication of incomparable musicians as extraordinary teachers. His plan is working; Park ICM has graduated an impressive number of world-renowned students in its 20 years.
Park ICM is unique among American programs. While other top-tier universities and conservatories also have master instructors, they do not devote as much time to their students in the way Park ICM does. Students work with the masters for a minimum of two private lessons a week, sometimes more. “We were able to bring the European traditions of teaching,” Ioudenitch says. “One of the most important things is we have the flexibility to offer more classes to our students than is the usual way.” Master instructors develop close relationships with their protégés, taking on the role of teacher, career advisor, personal counselor, parent, and friend. The bonds forged at Park ICM last well beyond graduation.
“We’re a little outside the box of an academic environment,” says Ben Sayevich, a master violinist. “For example, when our alum David Radzynski was preparing for his audition for the Concertmaster position, very often, we worked with him until 12 o’clock at night. The fact that Park University allowed us to do that—that’s an incredible credit to this institution and their search for excellence and recognition and belief in us, that we are doing something important.” The removal of distractions and outside pressures is something students and faculty both appreciate, despite Park ICM being located just 20 minutes outside Kansas City.
The pastoral river bluffs of Park ICM provide a calming environment for students to focus on music and themselves. “My favorite thing about the program at Park is that it combines a lot of practice time and time for peace and quiet and growing within yourself with a lot of lesson time and a lot of personal attention and care,” says former student Kenny Broberg. “Normal universities, even conservatories, you’re just in class so much, and that’s great—you need to be well-rounded, and you need a good education and a good background, but you also need some years to just focus on yourself and really grow. A lot of people never get the opportunity to do that.” Park ICM’s setting is relaxed, but the expectations are high. The musical masters transform their protégés through intense training, preparing them to be competitive contenders at the international level.
The right blend of student and master is magical, as Park ICM and Ioudenitch well know. “I wanted to create the experience which I lived through,” says Ioudenitch. Current and previous students have continued to win prestigious national and international awards, performing at concert halls and top competitions around the globe. Pianist Yangrui Cai placed first at the Japan Piano Open, an international piano competition, earlier this year. Former student David Radzynski became one of the world’s youngest concertmasters at the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and currently serves as concertmaster for the Cleveland Orchestra. Ioudenitch’s secret? “Care,” he says. “Whatever is needed to help develop a great talent—and there are a great many things, it’s not just classes—we are there to listen, to help.”
Check out Park ICM’s training program today and find out more about the next generation of international masters in piano, violin, cello, and viola.