A World-class Event in Fort Collins, Colorado

With a vision to create a world-class piano competition and festival, transforming Fort Collins into a global beacon for talented pianists from around the world, the International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival, U.S.A. (IKOF) was founded in 2011 by Dr. Janet Landreth, professor emerita and former chair of keyboard studies at Colorado State University.

During the start-up process, the word Odyssiad® was coined from Odyssey (a journey) and subsequently registered and trademarked. The motto, “A Journey to the Performance of a Lifetime,” was adopted to encapsulate the highest performance standards of the competitors in pursuit of those ideals.

IKOF's first production was in 2012. Initially held in a church, the week-long summer festival included evening concerts, daily masterclasses, presentations, and workshops, plus a competition in two categories: Solo Piano and Concerto with Orchestra.

Fort Collins as a global desitination

Now held each summer at the University Center for the Arts at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, IKOF enriches the northern Colorado region through live concerts presented by world-renowned pianists and serves 4,000+ people each year by remaining committed to modest ticket pricing that allows the broadest economic spectrum to attend.

Luminary guest artists have propelled the Odyssiad® to acclaim among international piano competitions and festivals with famous names like Olga Kern, Yakov Kasman, Valery Kuleshov, Yunchan Lim, Haochen Zhang, Kemal Gekic, Zlata Chochieva, Natalia Trull, Elisey Mysin, Natasha Paremski, Tetiana Shafran, Vadym Kholodenko, Kenny Broberg, Anderson & Roe, Eduardo Ponce & Sophia Hase, Frederic Chiu, Ju-eun Lee, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Roberto Plano, Eva Gevorgyan, Konstantin Soukovetski, Aleksandra Kasman Laude, Vyacheslav Gryaznov, and Bryan Wallick performing astounding concerts and epic musical works only previously found in distant arts destinations with larger populations, such as Los Angeles or New York City.

Each summer, the Odyssiad® transcends cultural differences through the universal language of music while uniting regional audiences with talent from across the world. As IKOF events attract national and international attention from guest artists, teachers, conductors, “rising star” competitors, judges, and seminar presenters, the economic impact of new visitors has benefited local hotels, restaurants, and businesses. The accomplished assembly mentors performers during the festival via masterclasses, concerts, lectures, and social engagements.

Sometimes, hitting the proverbial brick wall leads to extraordinary discoveries, as in the case of the term ‘Odyssiad®.’ Festival founder Janet Landreth originally wanted to use the name ‘Keyboard "Olympiad,’ but was informed by the International Olympic Committee that the word ‘Olympiad’ is copyrighted. Dr. Landreth had already completed many plans, including using the acronym IKOF, so an ‘O’ word with important historical significance or pedigree was needed. “During a period of self-recrimination and frustration, I stumbled on ‘Odyssey,’“ said Landreth. “How could I use that word? It had historical significance, but a journey? To what? ‘A Journey to the Performance of a Lifetime,’ of course!”

The term ‘Odyssiad®’ resulted, and this pivot turned out much better in the long run as it could be registered and trademarked. “No one else can use it,” exclaimed Landreth!