LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - A University of Louisville alumnus is one of the newest names on the elite role of Steinway Artists. Pianist David T. Curtin and his wife, pianist Hyun Ju Curtin, were named Steinway Artists on May 1, 2009, during the Lock Haven University commencement ceremony. The Curtins are the only Steinway Artists residing in the entire Northeast/Central region of Pennsylvania.

Lock Haven University can now boast that it is the only college or university in the region to have a Steinway Artist on its faculty. David Curtin is associate professor of music at Lock Haven University. Hyun Ju Curtin is a frequent guest performer at LHU.

David earned his Master of Music degree in l993 from the University of Louisville School of Music, where he studied under Steinway Artist Lee Luvisi. During David’s time at Louisville, Professor Luvisi was Artist-in-Residence.

Both David and Hyun Ju credit their success to the excellent training they received at the various universities they attended. In a joint statement, the Curtins said, "Our teachers gave more than instruction; they gave us inspiration, which (along with a lot of hard work) is the most important thing for any kind of artist. We still travel occasionally to Cincinnati or to Louisville to hear performances by our former teachers. Great teachers such as we had remain with you throughout your life. If they have successfully impressed upon you their artistic and musical values, you can imagine what they might say, how they would approach a certain musical or teaching situation. It is my privilege to be in a position to instill those values in turn to my students at Lock Haven University, and it is a great joy to be able to do so with the finest pianos in the world."

Ronald Losby, President of Steinway & Sons-Americas, presented Steinway Artist credentials to David and Hyun Ju Curtin as part of his commencement speech to the 2009 Lock Haven University graduating class.

Prior to the ceremony, Losby explained that there are only about 1500 Steinway Artists in the world. “They represent the crème de la crème of performance and education,” he said. “They truly are the pinnacle of artistic achievement and we are honored to have David and Hyun Ju Curtin as Steinway Artists. They will follow in the footsteps of notables such as Horowitz, Rubenstein, Gershwin and Billy Joel,” he added.

The Curtins have achieved Steinway Artist designation individually and as a duet, and will be listed on the Steinway & Sons website under Artists and Ensembles.

David Curtin described his inclusion on the elite roster of Steinway Artists as “The fulfillment of a dream.” He said, “I am honored to be associated with Steinway.”

The Curtins’ designation as Steinway Artists follows Lock Haven University’s recent achievement of All-Steinway status. In his commencement speech, Losby noted that, as an All-Steinway school, Lock Haven University demonstrates its commitment to excellence not only in music, but to all aspects of the students’ experience. Lock Haven University is listed as an All-Steinway School on the Steinway & Sons website. Graduates of the LHU music and music education programs will be able to list among their credentials the fact that they studied at an All-Steinway school and under Steinway Artist David T. Curtin.

David Curtin, a native of Rochester, N.Y., earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has performed nationally and internationally. Korean-born Hyun Ju Curtin is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and has performed concerti, chamber music, and solo recitals throughout the United States and Korea.