About USIDPC
The United States International Duo Piano Competition is one of the fastest growing Duo Competitions in the world. The Winners’ Concerts take place annually at the world-famous Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The United States International Duo Piano Competition was created in 1999. The mission of the USIDPC is to provide a top quality international duo competition that challenges talented performers of all ages to reach their musical potential in a setting promoting international cooperation and the coming together of musicians in the spirit and joy that is music.
“USIDPC is indeed a prestigious event. It is a major competition with a prevailing atmosphere of the joy of performing at every level.”
- Carole Flateau, Owner of Noteworthy Publishers
About the Founder, Linda Collins King
When the U.S.I.D.P.C. was first started at The Broadmoor Hotel, it was known as the Rocky Mountain International Duo Piano Competition. We had 5 teachers and 54 entries our first year. We became the U.S.I.D.P.C. after the 9/11 tragedy when Congress asked us to change our name because we were the first music organization to give to the police and firemen in NYC. Little did I dream that the DUO competition would grow and be as far reaching as it is today.
We have watched students advance through the years and go on to win prestigious awards such as the Ellis Duo Competition, among others. It is heartwarming to see the contestants meet each other and form friendships. We have had contestants from China, Russia, Romania, Estonia, Belarus, France, Canada, and the United States.
In the late 1920s, there was a young trumpet player who formed a band called the Redcoat Band.
His name was Charles Collins. The Redcoats played for dances at The Broadmoor and for private parties for the Spencer and Penrose families. He graduated from high school in Colorado Springs and attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
Charles married Norma Reeda White in 1929 and she played piano for the band. They had such notables join the band through the years as Harry James, Ozzie Nelson, Don Cherry, and Dale Evans. They contributed so much to the music world. Charles and Norma had four children: Betty Collins Boudreau, Fort Walton Beach, FL; Charles Collins, Toluca Lake, CA; James Collins, Wichita Falls, TX, and Linda Collins King, Centennial, CO. We were so fortunate to have had them as our parents.
It is has been such an honor for me to continue this gift of music at a national and international level through the work we do at the USIDPC.
The United States International Duo Piano Competition is one of the fastest growing Duo Competitions in the world. The Winners’ Concerts takes place annually at the world-famous Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.