Individual Sponsors

Charles and Rebecca Dukes

First Prize Sponsor

When she was very young, Becky Dukes did not like studying the piano. Although musically gifted, and a lover of music of every kind, she did not enjoy the formal lessons and begged her mother to let her stop taking them. But as she built a distinguished career as a vocal performer and a composer of both vocal and piano music, she became a full-fledged convert to the joys of the keyboard, and she also became a mainstay of the Kapell International Piano Competition and Festival. She and her husband, Charlie, have provided financial support for the competition prizes for many years, and she has volunteered her time in numerous ways since she first became involved with the competition in the mid-1980s. She shared her thoughts about the future, and the past, of the Kapell in a recent interview.

Q: Are there any especially memorable events that you associate with the Kapell?

BD: Many. The competition has meant a great deal to me personally. It has served as a continuing education in music. I feel privileged to have been part of it, and grateful to have had Charlie's support in doing so.

When Becky was asked by George Moquin to represent the Kapell at the 25th anniversary of the international piano competition in Santander, Spain, she found out how highly regarded the Kapell is, both by competition attendees and the international federation.

BD: Great esteem was expressed for the leadership, the caliber of competitors it brought, and the competition as a whole. It was with great pride that I represented this accomplishment of the University of Maryland.

Q. What are your hopes and dreams for the Competition's future?

BD: I hope that the Kapell will continue to hold the high level of esteem that it has earned throughout the world. It is important that all major prizes will be fully supported in the future and that the Kapell Competition will continue to receive the needed support from the community in terms of housing and personal support for the many talented competitors from around the world. The warmth of the community makes a tremendous difference to the experience of the artists, and often life-long friendships are the result.

Q. Are there any other thoughts about the Kapell that you would care to share?

BD: What a joy it has been to have the privilege of being a part of the William Kapell International Piano Competition. Susie Farr and the staff at the Center have done a magnificent job of continuing the Kapell tradition. The competition has been fortunate to have received a great deal of support from the university administration during its years.

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