Fourteen-year-old Jonathan Keith from American Fork, Utah, scooped a record four First Prizes for versatility, original composition (his own highly sophisticated piece, titled "Daydreams") and jazz transcription (stunning improvisations on "Piano Man" by Billy Joel and "Satin Doll" by Duke Ellington). Jonathan demonstrated a wide range of ability by also playing music of classical elegance (Mozart) and bravura technique (Liszt).

Jonathan was also a First Prize winner in the 2003 festival.

Jonathan's four awards were for the following categories:
• MOST VERSATILE PIANIST
• BEST DEMONSTRATION OF SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION IN A JAZZ, POP, GOSPEL OR RAG STYLE WORK
• BEST ORIGINAL COMPOSITION PERFORMED BY ANY CONTESTANT
• BEST PERFORMANCE OF A TASTEFUL TRANSCRIPTION OR ARRANGEMENT (IN ANY STYLE, ORIGINAL OR NOT) FOR PIANO SOLO

Another top winner was twelve-year-old Boise pianist Stephanie Sherwood, who won multiple First Prizes for three consecutive years. Stephanie's combination of traditional and contemporary music - including a remarkably mature original composition entitled "Ilmen Lindele" - earned her a total of three First Prizes:
• MOST CREATIVE OR VERSATILE IDAHO PIANIST
• BEST ORIGINAL COMPOSITION PERFORMED BY AN IDAHO CONTESTANT
• BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE BY A FEMALE COMPOSER

Jessica Roderer (Wellsville, Utah) took First Prize in two categories:
• BEST PERFORMANCE OF A PRE-BAROQUE, BAROQUE, OR CLASSICAL PERIOD WORK
• BEST PERFORMANCE OF A ROMANTIC PERIOD WORK

Other First Prize winners were:
• Jessica Wu (Boise, ID), BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN IMPRESSIONISTIC OR CONTEMPORARY WORK
• Jaymeson Pon (Meridian, ID), BEST IDAHO PIANIST IN REPERTORY EXCELLENCE
• Eric Sater (Meridian, ID), BEST PIANIST FROM THE IDAHO TREASURE VALLEY
• Bethany Sigurdson (Nyssa, Oregon), BEST DEMONSTRATION OF EMBELLISHING AND/OR IMPROVISING IN A CLASSICAL WORK
• Josh Wright (Sandy, UT), BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK.

Five students won Honorable Mentions:
Morgan Bailey, Emily Black, Chris Doudy, and Tiffany McKain (all from the Treasure Valley), as well as Amanda Nelson from Salt Lake City, Utah.

The "Creative Teaching Incentive Award" was awarded to Mary Lou Koto, who teaches in Fruitland, Idaho, and is a 1973 graduate of Albertson College.

We are grateful to the many volunteers who helped make this year's festival a great success. They include Cathy & Joshua Archibald-Seiffer, Mary & Morgan Bailey, Julie Barson, Halimah Brugger, Cathie Doudy, Juli Draney, Nancy Galvin, Sheryl Hillman, Azam Houle, Kim Hovren, Fran McKain, Ai Chin Pai, Gay Pool, the Richards family (Andrea, Sarah & Paulette), Nancy Sherwood, Linda Sigurdson, Dave Tacher, Johann Vargas, Myako Yamamoto and many others we have doubtless inadvertently failed to mention.

We are also grateful to our very special perennial judge, Dr. John Salmon from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and to all our expert clinicians and recitalists from Oregon, Colorado and Boise State University:

Dr. Matt Cooper, Chuck Smith, Dr. David Wohl, Dr. Del Parkinson, Marion Corron, David Tacher, Justin Nielsen, Halimah Brugger, Nancy Galvin, and Dr. Arthur Houle

Last but not least, a hearty thanks to:
• Mrs. Esther Simplot, for the use of the Simplot Academy
• Tom Tompkins, man-for-all-tasks at the Performing Arts Academy
• Robert and Merlyn Hendren, who initiated the original piano festival from which this evolved
• Albertson College & the Gladys Langroise Piano Fund, for support in launching this festival
• Dunkley Music, for the use of the pianos
• The Idaho Federation of Music Clubs (IFMC)
• Luann Fife, IFMC President
• Judy Prescott, IFMC Treasurer
• The Boise Tuesday Musicale and Idaho Music Teachers Association, whose many members lent support, directly or indirectly
• Thorn Parking Service
• Barbara Stuart, manager of the Best Western Safari Inn, for providing complimentary lodging for our judge and Dr. Matt Cooper
• All our generous sponsors and contributors, past and present
• Piano tuner/technician Paul Schiller
• Webmasters John Britschgi & Darius Houle
• Festival G-Clef logo designer Gina Heideman, ACI alumna & former Houle student

We could not have done it without all of you!

Arthur Houle, Founder and Director