So… we went to stony brook, so I am going to answer my question.
Stony brook u has three piano faculties. Two of them teaches graduate performance. Both of them are famous, but Gilbert Kalish is (way more) senior and I was told that he is world famous. There is one faculty that teaches undergrad.
This university’s admission process is to admit based on academic performance and music. But my S didn’t even send his videos (not required) and he was admitted. So we were like… what is going on. Just to make sure, here, it looks like they look at academic performance too, but it doesn’t have to strong as much.
And a few days ago, we went to orientation + auditions. So the students there (and parents) are already admitted students. There, you do auditions, and based on the auditions results, two things are determined: the amount of scholarship, if any, and the level. I could be wrong and please correct me if I am wrong, but three levels : the students who can study with the faculty, or study with grad students and some sort of watch list. So that’s why one faculty member is enough. My S told me that there were 10 piano students who got admission (of course, not all of them may not come here)
So… maybe about 5-60 students were there, they took an exam (my S said it’s pretty ok, notes and stuff, basic music theory). There is only one date for this orientation + audition, so the 5-60 students should be all.
In terms of audition, Gilbert Kalish was there, and it looks like he is the one who did all the auditions (correct me if I am wrong). The way I saw him, he was such a charismatic figure. I have met and seen several piano professors, but the aura on him was extra special.
Anyhow, it looks like pretty decent place. I am pretty surprised that this school is not mentioned that much here. Program seems to be very sizeable. We went to SUNY purchase for trial lesson before and will go again for auditions a few weeks later, but the university itself was much better than Purchase. I admit that Purchase may have more difficult admission process. I actually felt that my S could go here (State university and all, and we are NY residents). But the fact that you have 3 faculties and many students (don’t know how many) could be an issue.
Music building was ok, rather huge, seems like very lively place but practice rooms may be not so great (frankly I couldn’t find one other than the public ones in 1st floor). The building itself, I think it was better than others. We were assigned to a practice room, and that looks like a faculty or grad student room. Although the room has Steinway piano, it was in strange state, so it looks like it’s grad student’s room.
Huge asian students presence, and the music building is in front of Wang center (asian center or something).
Overall, we had interesting experience. Gilbert Kalish was kind person.