Music Institute, Festival Helps Norwood ’25 Key in on Love of Piano

And while his sisters have long since stopped playing, for Norwood, the preferred instrument of Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has evolved into a lifelong passion. This past summer, Norwood got the chance to further develop that passion via a 10-day program designed for elite high-school and college musicians.

Through the support of a Cullman Scholarship, Norwood travelled to Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland to participate in the Intermuse International Music Institute & Festival (IIMIF), a unique instructional showcase designed to heighten and enrich the skills of young string musicians and pianists across the globe.

“It was really refreshing to be immersed in a group of kids that all have the same interest as I do in classical music,” Norwood said. “I mean, just to be around people who kind of think the same way as you, have the same passion as you and just go all out, like all day every day for 10 days straight. It was a lot of fun.”

Considered among Kimball Union Academy’s highest honors, the Cullman Scholarship Program was established in 1983 with a gift from Hugh Cullman ’42 and supports students in off-campus study opportunities. In 2024, Norwood and nine other students were awarded scholarships to pursue areas of study of their choosing that develop leadership skills, global and environmental awareness, and service to others.

To be accepted into IIMIF, Norwood submitted a lengthy application that included recordings of himself performing a pair of compositions chosen by instructors. Though both pieces were unfamiliar to him previously, he said the most difficult was a 52-page Mozart Piano Trio.

Once on the Maryland campus, Norwood was assigned to a chamber group — a cellist from Texas and a violinist from Virginia — with whom he met regularly for both formal and informal practice sessions. His days also included workshops on stage presence and practicing strategies, as well as unique activities like yoga for musicians.

At the conclusion of the program, Norwood and his chamber group were tasked with performing their assigned pieces to an audience of instructors and peers.

“I had done chamber groups before, so I wasn't overly intimidated by that factor,” Norwood said. “We practiced them a lot. But in general, they were definitely easier than some of the solo pieces I’ve done, just because you’re playing along with two other instruments. So, there’s an intensity that comes with that.”

Norwood, a member of KUA’s varsity tennis team, is not involved with the school’s ensembles, saying he prefers to play music of his choice on his own time. That hasn’t stopped him from practicing and performing on The Hilltop, however, as he’s serenaded his peers during All School Meetings and other events on campus.

But as a day student, Norwood offers private piano lessons to local children as a means of sharing his passion with others. And after seeing how much joy music brought his grandmother who was suffering from Alzheimer’s, he began organizing music recitals with other young musicians at nearby assisted and independent living facilities. 

Next year, Norwood will attend Dartmouth College where he plans to study government, yet music will remain present in his life and his Cullman experience allowed him time to immerse himself in his creative side.

As a result, he encourages future KUA students to apply for a Cullman Scholarship, calling it an “unparalleled opportunity to dive into your passion.”

“I would say apply for a Cullman Scholarship so that you can have the opportunity to explore something you’re passionate about without the stress of how much it costs,” Norwood said. “I also think it's nice that being a Cullman Scholar gives you the platform to then share your experience and more about yourself with the school.”