Competition Jurists

Information about jurist David Allen Wehr may be found at our Competition Recital link.

A native of Kansas, Sylvia Reynolds Eckes’ career began with decisive critical acclaim following debut concerts in Oslo, Norway, and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. She has performed in the United States, Europe, and China, has appeared on television and radio, and been guest soloist with orchestras in California, Florida, and New Jersey. As chamber musician, she has played in Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Beijing and Tianjin, China, and numerous cities in Norway. Her accompanying debut was in Oslo with baritone Erling Onsager, and Carnegie Recital Hall with oboist Brynar Hoff. She was orchestra pianist of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Eckes has recorded on Crystal Labels with clarinetist Melvin Warner, and released a solo CD recording of Grieg piano works with Connoisseur Label in 2000

Dr. Eckes holds degrees from Peabody Conservatory, the Julliard School, and the University of Kansas. She received the debut concert award from the Oslo Conservatory and a scholarship to the Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg, Austria. She held full-time appointments at the University of Kansas, Northern Illinois University, and Rollins College, and served as Interim Director of the Ohio University. She taught at major conservatories in China, Norway, and festivals in Italy and Norway. Her students have performed with orchestras and in venues including CAMI Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Steinway Hall, Twin Oaks Mansion in Washington, D.C., the University of Illinois, and Princeton University. She received the Robinor Pedagogy Award of Excellence from the Piano Teachers Society of America, and was awarded “Teacher of the Year” from the Steinway Society.


Pianist Rick Rowley is a very versatile musician and has appeared extensively as a recitalist, a concerto soloist and chamber performer with an exciting list of the world's leading musicians. The Washington Post wrote that he is “a communicative performer who takes the music on its own terms … with understanding of its point and purpose.”

The San-Antonio Express-News praised his “resplendent performance … which crackled with infectious energy,” and the Austin Statesman-American has praised his “dazzling technique” and “world-class expertise,” calling one of his concerts “concerto playing at its best.”

The American Record Guide praised his release of piano music of Franz Liszt saying that “Rowley’s playing is wonderful in these favorites — poetic, tender, full of grandeur.” Of his American music CD they wrote, “By all means, grab this” and recently extolled his Chopin CD writing that “the ‘Fantasy-Impromptu’ can take on all challengers.”

Mr. Rowley is currently on the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin, where he works with vocalists, pianists and instrumentalists, in addition to extensive performing. He will again be a member of the faculty and guest pianist for the Rose City Conductors’ Workshop, where this coming summer he will rehearse and perform the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 with several outstanding young conductors.

Mr. Rowley has recorded, produced and written liner notes for a number of compact discs. His solo recordings feature repertoire by Liszt, Guion, Chopin, Mompou, Granados, Barber, Gershwin, Cumming, Copland and Kathryn Mishell. A second CD with flutist Marianne Gedigian on the University of Texas label has recently been released and he has recorded with soprano Cheryl Parrish, cellist Peter Rejto and clarinetist Patricia Shands.