Ouachita’s keyboard faculty is highly respected both locally and nationally as artists, music educators, and leaders in the world of music.

Dr. Ouida Keck

• Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy
• Coordinator of Keyboard Studies

Ouida Keck holds degrees in Piano Performance from Ouachita Baptist University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Iowa. Dr. Keck has been recognized as an outstanding piano teacher by several organizations and has had numerous award-winning students. She was President of the National Federation of Music Clubs in 1999-2003.

Dr. Lei Cai

• Associate Professor of Piano

Dr. Cai has collaborated with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on CDs and has recorded for Radio Shanghai. His performance of Rachmaninoff’s First Piano Concerto was described as “one of the finest performances of this work…Cai displayed a power and crispness of technique that would make any soloist proud.” (Knoxville News-Sentinel) He holds the Doctor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Florida State University.

Dr. Eneida Larti

• Visiting Assistant Professor

Dr. Eneida Larti holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Colorado, a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Indiana University-Bloomington, and a BM in piano performance from Oklahoma City University. As a soloist, Ms. Larti has participated and earned prizes in several competitions, such as the Tunnel Concerto Competition, MTNA competition, Ladies’ Music Club competition, etc., and has participated in the master classes of John Nakamatsu, Barry Snyder, Menahem Pressler, and Anton Nel. As a chamber musician, she has received coachings from professors Anne Epperson, David Salness and David Korevaar. In the summer of 2006 she also participated in the Brevard Music Festival where she studied with Dr. Andrew Cooperstock.