OFFICIAL 2015 COMPETITION PROGRAM
THE WORLD’S BEST COME TO CINCINNATI
Nancianne Parrella, resident since 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents /04-06 LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP /08 BOARD OF DIRECTORS /09 VOLUNTEERS
10 /10-13 CWPC IN THE COMMUNITY /14-15 2015 DONORS /16 COMPETITION SCHEDULE /18-19 BEHIND THE CURTAIN How the CSO chooses pianists for an upcoming season
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/20-21 OWNING IT A Q&A with Awadagin Pratt and Moye Chen
/22 MEET THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR /23 MEET THE CONDUCTOR /24-26 2015 JURY /32-55 MEET THE COMPETITORS
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/56 2016 CWPC SEASON SNEAK PEEK
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID RAFIE PRODUCED BY
2 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Publisher Ivy Bayer Carew Tower, 441 Vine Street, Suite 200, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Phone: (513) 421-4300 Fax: (513) 562-2788 www.cincinnatimagazine.com
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Welcome
Dear Friends, Welcome to Corbett Auditorium at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for the 2015 Cincinnati World Piano Competition. 2015 marks our 59th season and the third year of our collaboration with CCM and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The excitement of the pianists, the orchestra, and the community is palpable. We’re all glad the time to play is finally here. For us at the Cincinnati World Piano Competition, though, spreading the power and joy of piano music is a year-round endeavor. While the Competition is the highlight of what we do, it is far from the only thing. In fact, one of my greatest pleasures in leading this organization is how far we’ve come in weaving ourselves into the fabric of this community. Music plays an important role in all of our lives. For some of us, that role is more clearly defined—perhaps starting with formal training early on that allowed for development of sharpened
listening skills and an appetite for disciplined work. For others, music is simply a way to connect with friends and neighbors. Or maybe it’s the opportunity to reset our minds. The central role of music is not lost on the Competition’s board, which continues to aggressively explore ways to continue our organization’s growth, both as a competition and as a member in good standing of the local arts scene. As with any successful organization, the Competition is now much more mission based, that mission being to inspire and positively impact our diverse communities with the joy and power of piano music, and celebrate and support young artists, locally and internationally, as they begin their careers. And we are a Cincinnati organization, which is the reason we officially added Cincinnati to our name this year. We’re proud of our roots, and even prouder of our world-class musical city. But mission is about more than words. Our Hammers, Strings & Keys education series (renamed from the Bach/Beethoven/ Brahms Club) introduces elementary, middle, and high school children to classical piano music and inspires them through education-based piano programs. Last year, we doubled attendance at these events. This year, nearly 3,000 children from 12 schools attended events at the Aronoff Center, Greenacres Art Center, and in multiple schools in the greater Cincinnati region. We expanded our senior outreach program with a series of recitals at 10 senior communities, reaching an audience of nearly 1,000. The Competition has also launched a series of special events to introduce piano music (and ourselves!) to young professionals, including Beer and Beethoven at Rhinegeist Brewery and a chamber music concert at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center. Our outreach extends to audiences at Carnegie Hall in New York City as well. Since October, we’ve presented three concerts to capacity crowds at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. In October we featured 27 medalists from our 2013 Young Artist Competition, followed by solo recitals featuring 2013 Gold Medalist, Marianna Prjevalskaya, and 2014 Gold Medalist, Moye Chen. All of our achievements are made possible through the tireless efforts of our volunteers, patrons, and partners. Special thanks go out to Laura Bock, Rachel Kirley, Sara Danner Dukic, Judy Evans, Mary Ann Jordan, Rhonda Dickerscheid, and Dale Allen. I encourage you to explore the Cincinnati World Piano Competition on our website (visit us!), on our Facebook page (like us!), and our Twitter feed (follow us!). Let us show you why we’re so passionate, and join in the fun. There is room for you here. Very Truly Yours,
Mark W. Ernster President/Chief Executive Officer Cincinnati World Piano Competition
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LETTER FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Welcome
I warmly welcome everyone to the 2015 Cincinnati World Piano Competition, Artist Division. This is the third edition of the reorganized CWPC and we’re absolutely thrilled with the landmark and historical changes to our format. There is no competition in the world with the format we introduce this week. Having participated in every dimension of music competitions for most of my life, whether as competitor, juror, or on the administrative side, I’ve experienced them fully, and had a lot of time to reflect on them. Firstly, one must accept that any kind of competition in music is an unpleasant proposition. There is an inherent difficulty in judging those who have worked hard to be artists— especially since all of the judging is done on a completely subjective basis. Besides this, however, I have long been struck by the extent to which music competitions were different from sporting competitions. Music competitions have a judging process that, at times, can have no results for days, and which mimics the transparency of a papal conclave! This often results in competitors, audience members—and occasionally judges—walking out after an announcement scratching their heads. Contrast that experience to a sport that involves artistry. For instance, ice skating or gymnastics:
immediately after a performance, a score is given and the competitors and fans know where everyone stands. In music competition finals, generally things are clearer as three finalists get ranked. The judges listen to the first person and then the second, decide who is better of those two—and then listen to and rank the third competitor against the previous two. This year we will essentially apply what happens in the final rounds of every competition into the early rounds of this one. The goal is to increase the clarity of what’s happening for the competitors and the audience: persons A and B will play against one another. They will have different styles perhaps, different repertoire, different strengths. But their meeting in the first round will be no different than their meeting in the finals, and the task will be no easier or harder on the judges. They will evaluate and decide whom they prefer. The first round winners will continue competing on the A side; the rest will continue competing on the B side. Three competitors from each side will make the semifinals. For you in the audience, the best part is that if you liked someone who wasn’t a ‘winner’ in the first round, you will still have the opportunity to hear them again (in fact, half the competitors will play three times), and they will still have a chance to win the competition. I hope you enjoy this new format, that you will follow and support your favorites, and that you will help us celebrate the artistry of these fabulous young musicians.
Awadagin Pratt Artistic Director Cincinnati World Piano Competition
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2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board of Directors CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015–2016 SEASON
Mary Jo Barnett Andrew Bowen Trish Bryan Jerome Eichert Secretary
Mark W. Ernster
President & Chief Executive Officer
Jackie Lett Brown Brent Ludwick Pamela E. McDonald Jennifer McFarland Vice-Chair
George H. Musekamp, III Christine Neyer Kirk Polking Ernest Robinson Sam Ross Jack Rouse Chair
Gary Smith Treasurer
Bryce Yoder
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THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS! Christine Adams Dale Allen Roger Banta Bobby Bao Kevin Bao Leon Bao Alfonso Barnes Mary Jo Barnett Mary Baskett Nancy Batchelor Rita Bell Vina Bijaj Anne Black Linda Boehmer Marilyn Bourquein Andrew Bowen Robert Braggs Rita Broun Trish Bryan Diane Calkins Barb Carrelli Dottie Caster Brad Cerra Susan Cholvat Carletta Claxton Brenda Collins Fred Costa Suzanne Costandi Youssef Costandi Jodelle Crosset Janet Cummings Jill Cutter Pamela Daniels Jan Denton Rhonda Dickerscheid Beth Dieter Bobbie Dooley
Alla Dorn Connie Dreyfoos Andre Durham Elaine Eckstein Jerome Eichert Mary Elsen Mark Ernster Judy Evans Fouad Ezra Mary Ezra Jane Fangman Carol Fischer Terry Foreman Jackie Francis Kathy Freeman Gerald Froelich Don Galli Allene Geary Rose Marie Gigliotti Ethel Gilbert Laura Goodell Lois Griswold Ingrid Grupp Nancy Herbert Barbara Hester Linda Hill Laurel Hinkle Ruth Holtel DeAnna Huffman Glenna Irey Grace Jones Helen Jones Michael Jones Steve Jones Mary Ann Jordan Alan Jozwiak Bea Katz
Marc Katz Sara Kieffner Linda Kinsler Lynn Klahm Anne Kron Carol Kruse Ellen Landers Annette Lebowski Don Leedy Carol Leslie Jackie Lett Brown Joyce Levine Jeff Lisner Jeanne Long Judy Lucas Brent Ludwick Darryl Marsh Vivian McCrary Pamela McDonald Jennifer McFarland Marilyn McQueen Sally Moore Jen Moormeier Angela Murrer George Musekamp Christine Neyer Hai Nguyen Anne Noschang Mary Lou Osterfeld Sue Petrus Janet Pfaff Irmela Pogue Kirk Polking Nina Quinlivan Rochelle Render Sheila Richey Mary Ann Robbe
Ernest Robinson Mary Ann Robinson Linda Rogowski David Rohlfer Donna Rohlfer Drue Rolfes Margo Ross Sam Ross Ken Roth Sherry Roth Jack Rouse Carolyn Russo Kaitlin Ryckman Elaine Samuels Yvonne Schrotel David Schmid Kathryn Schmid Jolene Schwab Karen Schweinfest Mike Schweinfest Phil Seibert Nora Sewell Joe Shields Diane Smith Emily Smith Gary Smith Stacy Smith Teresa Smith Marian Stapleton Jan Struckman Kitty Tallarico Nancy Tanner Elizabeth Tinklenberg Ilse van der Bent Nancy Virgulak John Wallace Lauren Wallace
Diana Wolery Scot Woolley Stacey Woolley Bryce Yoder
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
2015 VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers
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Hammers, Strings & Keys
2015 HAMMERS, STRINGS & KEYS PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID RAFIE
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BUILDING TOMORROW’S AUDIENCE TODAY
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students from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. During these performances, an emcee discusses the lives of composers, the evolution and anatomy of the piano, relevant historical events, and the musical pieces being performed. Students have an opportunity to answer questions about the program and to ask their own questions of the artist in an interactive and nurturing environment.
“Because our own resources are limited, CWPC’s outreach efforts highlight the importance of the arts, elevate the community’s esteem for them, and do so at no cost to the school. Amazing!” – Liz Ingram, Principal, St. Bernadette School, Amelia Since the transition began, we have increased the number of concerts from three per season to 10; we have taken more
concerts directly to the schools so that students don’t have to be away from the classroom for long periods of time; we have expanded the repertoire to include selections from the Baroque through the modern era; and we have broadened our audience to include middle school and high school students. We want to be more relevant at a time when schools have been forced to reduce the number of music teachers in the system and when many children have little or no access to free quality arts programming. Our reward is in watching students’ faces light up when they see a grand piano for the first time or when a pianist plays a piece that makes an emotional connection. Because music appreciation fosters young audience development, we are committed to providing students the opportunity to hear classical piano music that enriches their lives and promotes a wellrounded education. Our hope is that we are fulfilling our mission of inspiring and positively impacting young lives by planting seeds that will lead to a lifetime of classical music enjoyment–and possibly a career in the arts. During our 2014–2015 season, almost 3,000 students attended Hammers, Strings & Keys performances compared to 400 two years ago. We think we’re well on our way to building tomorrow’s audience and we invite you to join us on this journey!
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
2015 HAMMERS, STRINGS & KEYS
usic has the power to change lives. Just listening to music has been shown to activate specific areas of the brain associated with emotion, attention, memory, and cognitive development. Music has a special impact on children. It makes them happy and it causes them to be more engaged. For the past two years, the Cincinnati World Piano Competition has been working tirelessly to improve its outreach programs to children. Last year, we rolled out an updated piano education series called Hammers, Strings & Keys (HS&K) building on the success of the Bach/Beethoven/Brahms Educational Outreach Program that preceded it. We’ve kept the basic format, but we’ve done our best to listen to the children and their teachers who make up our audience, as well as an advisory team of educators who develop materials for these concerts that directly tie in to the curriculum being taught in the local schools. The HS&K concerts provide children the opportunity to attend classical piano performances in a concert hall setting, a conservatory studio classroom, an outdoor tent, or their own school gymnasiums. We take the music where they are so that it becomes more accessible, and we offer these concerts free of charge. Performers include recent Artist Division competitors and graduate
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Entertainment Series
2015 ENTERTAINMENT SERIES BEER & BEETHOVEN
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lthough audiences far and wide may know the CWPC for the annual competitions, we view the competition as the “cherry on top” of the rest of our year-round programming. Local patrons and community members are engaged throughout the year with our Entertainment Series. This season, these programs included ticketed events like dinner concerts and a young professionals program, as well as free events like senior outreach recitals and a community chamber recital. This season, our dinner concert series featured medalists from the 2014 competition, as well as past competitors and Cincinnati entertainers. We revisited newer venues like Mayerson JCC and returned to our old favorites like the Queen City Club and the Cincinnati Woman’s Club. For the first time ever, the CWPC put on a Young Professionals event, Beer and Beethoven, at Rhinegeist Brewery. We invited
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID RAFIE
Cincinnati 30-somethings to come out after work, have a beer, and listen to a classical piano recital in a less-than-classical setting. This season, our senior outreach program was bigger than ever! We presented more recitals in more retirement communities, and reached more seniors who adore hearing the pianists perform. Additionally, the CWPC presented a chamber group at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center and participated in Macy’s Arts Sampler Weekend with a free presentation at the Taft Museum of Art. We offer these presentations with the hope and intent that they reach diverse areas of our community in impactful and unique ways. It’s important for us to continue to present these programs as well as seek inspiration to improve them. This season, we had a mix of traditional and new events, a notion that we will explore further in seasons to come as we continue to grow in our community and our mission.
2015 ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
BEER & BEETHOVEN
DINNER CONCERT SERIES
SENIOR OUTREACH
ARTS SAMPLER
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
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Donors THANK YOU TO OUR FANTASTIC DONORS The Cincinnati World Piano Competition sincerely thanks the following individuals and foundations for their generous support. This list recognizes commitments made from September 1, 2014 to May 14, 2015. GIFTS OF $10,000 AND MORE
2015 DONORS
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E Bryan, III Shannon and Lee Carter Charles H. Dater Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Eichert Sue and Bill Friedlander Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund Tom and Dee Stegman Ginger Warner GIFTS OF $5,000–$9,999
ArtsWave George L. and Anne P. Heldman Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Moe and Jack Rouse The Sarah Marvin Foundation for the Performing Arts Western & Southern Financial Group GIFTS OF $1,500–$4,999
Mrs. Arnold Barnett Mr. Devon Barrett and Mrs. Jennifer McFarland Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Betz Mr. and Mrs. James W. Brown Jodelle S. Crosset Mrs. Bernadine E. Ernster Mr. Mark W. Ernster Barry and Judy Evans Brent and Peggy Ludwick
Pamela McDonald William D. Stenger Fund Torey and Tom Torre Mr. and Mrs. Bryce Yoder GIFTS OF $250–$1,499
Christine O. Adams Mr. Bobby Bao and Mrs. Yi Chen Randy and Mary Helen Dunlap LKC Foundation Mr. and Mrs. David B. Eichert Mr. and Mrs. Don Elliot Lynne Meyers Gordon M.F.A. David Herriman Judith S. Humphreys Keating, Muething and Klekamp, PLL The Marvin P. Kolodzik Charitable Fund Dr. and Mrs. John Leibold David and Martha Milliett Sally Moore Carol and Drew Morgan Jim Schwab Donald and Kathryn Schwappach Jane and Mark Serriane Gary and Mary Lou Smith Nancy and Christopher Virgulak Mary West GIFTS UNDER $250
Bob Amott Dottie Caster Jack and BJ Carter
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Mrs. Jackson L. Clagett III Dr. and Mrs. Youssef Costandi Rhonda Dickerscheid Mr. and Mrs. Mel Dreyfoos Lisa Ehrichs Eli Lilly Foundation Mrs. David W. Ellis, Jr. Jane Ellis Laurette Erhardt, in memory of Susan W. Plageman Alice Fegelman and Leo Munick, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. William Fisher Jay and Kathy Freeman Carol S. Friel David and Pamela Ginsburg Mrs. Nancy Goldberg James and Carol Grady Donna Wirth and Bob Groszer Elizabeth M. Grubow Dr. Kelly Hale Carol and Ed Hake Judith Humphreys Dr. Helen B. Jones Marc Katz Barbara and Larry Kellar Mrs. Nancy D. Kollin Richard and Susan J. Lauf Fund Mrs. Anne I Lawrence Mr. and Mrs. David C. Lundgren Mrs. Vivian S. McCrary Faye and Bunny Meisel Anna B. and Joseph A. Milburn Dr. Andrew P. Millar
Ms. Katherine C. Miller Patty Misrach Angela Murrer Jim and Marty Neumeister Patricia Olberding, in memory of Susan W. Plageman Robert Plageman Charles W. and Marian S. Powers James W. Rauth Mr. and Mrs. William G. Rhoads Mrs. Sylvia Rhombus and Mr. Tom Barnhart Melody Sawyer Richardson Ed and Nancy Rosenthal Scott and Carol Rush Gertrude K. Seybold Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Sheldon Bin Gao and Chao Shi Gerald and Ann Silvers Marian Stapleton John F. Steele, Sr. Shiro and Miko Tanaka Jay and Mary Tetzloff John and Susan Tew Family Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Tinklenberg Janet G. Todd Mrs. Kathleen Turin Mr. and Mrs. E. Dieter van der Bent Frank and Janell Weinstock Mr. and Mrs. David West Mr. William Blake West and
ABOUT THE SARAH MARVIN FOUNDATION
Mr. David Ernon Ellis Bob and Joyce Westerkamp Mr. John Wilson, in memory of Susan W. Plageman
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Yurasek Tom and Sue Zelt Karen Zenor, in memory of Susan W. Plageman
Raised as an orphan in Cincinnati, Mrs. Sarah Marvin received a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Cincinnati and received a post-graduate degree from Madam Bolanger in Paris, France (1933). Mrs. Sarah Marvin had music studios in both Hamilton and Kenwood, Ohio, offering instruction on accordion, piano, and violin. Mrs. Marvin died on December 2, 2005 at the age of 102 years 2015 DONORS
old and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton, OH.
The Orchestra extends its deep gratitude to these generous leadership donors who have enabled the CSO to act as resident orchestra for the Cincinnati World Piano Competition.
Rosemary and Frank Bloom Linda and Harry Fath Sue and Bill Friedlander The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. / U.S. Bank Foundation Anne Heldman
Rosemary and Mark Schlachter The Harold C. Schott Foundation– Francie and Tom Hiltz Dee and Tom Stegman Sallie and Duck Wadsworth Anonymous
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
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Schedule
2015 COMPETITION SCHEDULE
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID RAFIE
2015 COMPETITION SCHEDULE FIRST & SECOND ROUNDS: 15 minute solo recitals THIRD ROUND: 30 minute solo recitals SEMIFINAL ROUND: 40 minute solo recitals FINAL ROUND: Concerti with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
SUNDAY, JUNE 7 First Round 2:00–5:45 PM
MONDAY, JUNE 8 First Round 12:00–1:45 PM 7:00–8:45 PM
TUESDAY, JUNE 9 Second Round 10:00 AM–1:45 PM 4:00–5:45 PM 7:00 – 8:45 PM
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 Third Round 10:00 AM–1:15 PM 5:00–8:15 PM Semifinalist Announcement: 8:30 PM
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THURSDAY, JUNE 11 Symposium with the Jury members 10:00 AM Semifinal Round 12:00–3:00 PM 6:00–9:00 PM Finalist Announcement: 9:30 PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 12 No Public Events—Rehearsal with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
SATURDAY, JUNE 13 Final Round with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 7:00 PM Awards ceremony to follow immediately after performances Dessert and coffee with the medalists in the Baur Room following the awards ceremony
Class ical Beauty & Elegan ce
2015 S-Class
Cincinnati
MBCincy.com
West Chester
Competitions can be an important factor in getting the attention of conductors and artistic administrators. “I pay attention to competitions,” Thompson says. “The competition environment is such a high pressure environment, and they can be a shot in the arm for a young pianist launching a career, but then they have to work hard to find a career path that is sustainable.”
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PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK LYONS
Behind the Curtain MANY FACTORS COME INTO PLAY WHEN CHOOSING PIANISTS FOR A SYMPHONY SEASON. BY KATHLEEN DOANE
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ext season, one-third of the guest artists who will perform with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra are pianists. Although that may sound like an overly generous amount of spotlight time allotted to the keyboard compared to other instruments, it’s pretty standard. Composers love to write for the piano and have created a wealth of repertoire for it. “There are just far more piano concerti than, say, clarinet or cello concerti,” says Isaac Thompson, the CSO’s Director of Artistic Administration. He ticks off a short list to make his point: “Twenty-seven Mozart piano concertos for piano and orchestra; five from Beethoven; two from Brahms.” That translates to more opportunities for pianists to solo with orchestras. Still, with the number of established and emerging young concert pianists available today, choosing artists to appear with the orchestra is a complicated process. Thompson assists CSO Music Director Louis Langrée in planning each season, which starts at least two years in advance by discussing general repertoire and programming threads or themes that will continue through the season. Eventually, those decisions are matched with performers. “Louis wants to work with certain artists, and the CSO has close relationships with several great pianists, but we try to balance that with artists who are new to our audiences,” Thompson says. Competitions can be an important factor in getting the attention of conductors and artistic administrators. “I pay attention to competitions,” Thompson says. “The competition environment is such a high pressure environment, and they can be a shot in the arm for a young pianist launching a career, but then they have to work hard to find a career path that is sustainable.”
Thompson also never passes up an opportunity to hear pianists in concert when he travels. “I’m like a baseball scout,” he says, smiling. Internet videos also make it far easier today to hear young pianists all over the world. Insider buzz plays an important role as well. “Artistic Administrators across the country talk to each other on a regular basis,” Thompson explains. “If someone makes a huge splash in L.A., for instance, I’ll hear about it from my counterpart there.” Likewise, if Thompson and Langrée are considering an artist neither has worked with before, Thompson is likely to pick up the phone to call one of his colleagues at another orchestra who has. “Artist managers also will send live recordings of recent debuts which I always try to listen to,” he says. So, what are they listening for? Technical proficiency, of course, but all of the little extra things one can sense in a great performer that show a connection with the composer that is somehow translated to the audience. “I’ve heard Radu Lupu play several times, and he’s a real poet,” Thompson says. “To hear him do the slow movement of a Beethoven concerto or Brahms First Piano concerto is something I’ll never forget.” Of course, sometimes that something special is nearly impossible to articulate. “There’s the ability to control the instrument that certain people have that is quite remarkable,” Thompson says, referring to the capacity to pull nuance and shades of color from a nine-foot Steinway. “Many people look at a piano and see a big black instrument where you press the key and that’s the end of it, but a great artist can do so much more with phrasing and musicality. “Many people can play all the notes, but to be able to play a long line and really make it sing is very challenging. I’m not sure that can be taught.” 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
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Owning It LEARNING A NEW WORK IS A DAUNTING TASK WHETHER YOU’RE A YOUNG ARTIST SUCH AS LAST YEAR’S WORLD PIANO COMPETITION GOLD MEDAL WINNER MOYE CHEN OR AN ESTABLISHED PIANIST LIKE CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AWADAGIN PRATT. BY KATHLEEN DOANE 20 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID RAFIE
You want to add a piece to your repertoire. How do you begin? Moye Chen: For me, it includes five steps: First, looking it over to familiarize myself with the piece before I even sight-read it; second, sight-reading it; third, thinking about musical details once I’ve memorized it; fourth, practicing the piece repeatedly to make sure I feel secure on the stage and confident I can handle everything; and fifth, playing the piece in public or for someone else to get comments and suggestions. Awadagin Pratt: It’s an ever-changing process that starts with a study of the score, identifying the overall architecture, texture, and development of the piece. I may listen to a recording for a general idea of what the piece sounds like, then I get in and excavate. I literally take the piece apart, learning the notes and internalizing the rhythms and learning the dynamic marks, studying the harmonies and phrasing and then I put it back together. Hoping in the end, that it’s what the composer imagined when he wrote it down.
When do you begin to realize your own interpretation of a work? MC: Music is like a language. I need to investigate the composer’s musical language, and also discover my own musical language to express the composer’s intention. AP: The more times I play a piece, the more I get inside it, but from the very first performance, it’s my own.
At what point do you begin to memorize? MC: Sometimes, when I finish my sight-reading for a new piece, I can memorize it automatically. However, it’s not very secure and could be considered just muscle memory. I have to research the score carefully, looking at the harmony, texture, tempo, dynamics, etc. When I learn a new piece, my goal is to memorize it with my fingers, brain, and heart. AP: There are so many types of memory: tactile, aural, intellectual, and they all work together. Generally the places one practices the most come most easily; sections come more easily than transition material. For me, however, I don’t learn the notes and then say I’m going to memorize it. Sometimes, I start playing from the end of the piece, sometimes from the beginning, seeing how far I can go on a whim, then reminding myself of the places where I forgot. I start again, and see how far I can go. Sometimes I set out to memorize a section. It varies.
Is the way you prepare for a competition different than the way you practice for a concert or recital? MC: The approach is very simple: tough practice. For the Iowa competition [earlier this year], I only had about one month to prepare the Brahms First. I had to focus on it intensely, and I set goals for every day. For example: Completion of my sight-reading within three days; memorizing it within one week, etc. The Cincinnati World Piano Competition requires contemporary pieces. I did not have time to learn them until mid-May last year, and I still remember practicing the three short pieces very diligently at least four hours a day. It was a very good experience for me, and I think the contemporary music requirement is an excellent element in this competition. AP: The process for learning a new piece for competition was the same as for any other kind of performance. A competition performance gets judged, but the responsibility should be the same as in a non-judged performance, to represent the composer as best as possible.
Does your interpretation change over time? MC: My musical thoughts and artistic tastes will change as I get older. However, I will always keep my interpretations convincing and honest. AP: Yes, from experiences on stage and from re-reviewing the piece. In the course of my 20 years as a performer, I’ve been more focused on one element of performance than another at times and that is reflected in the interpretations. No two performances onstage are ever the same.
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Meet the Artistic Director AWADAGIN PRATT Acclaimed for his musical insight and intensity, Awadagin Pratt holds numerous degrees from the University of Illinois and the Peabody Conservatory of Music in not only piano, but violin and conducting as well. Mr. Pratt has been awarded the Naumburg International Piano Competition and an Avery Fisher Career Grant. As a pianist, he has appeared with the New York Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and Baltimore symphonies among many others. As a conductor, Mr. Pratt worked closely with Leonard Slatkin and has conducted the National Symphony as well as the Toledo, New Mexico, and Vancouver symphonies, among others. Mr. Pratt has appeared in People magazine, and was named one of the 50 Leaders of Tomorrow by Ebony magazine. He has been featured on Performance Today and Weekend Edition. Mr. Pratt has performed on the Today Show and Sesame Street. In 2009, Mr. Pratt performed at the White House for an event hosted by Mrs. and President Obama. Mr. Pratt is currently Professor of Piano and Chairman of the Piano Department at the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music. He is also the Artistic Director of the Cincinnati World Piano Competition. Mr. Pratt is a favorite on collegiate performing arts series and a strong advocate of music education. Mr. Pratt records for Angel/EMI and Telarc, and is a Yamaha artist.
Our 103rd Season SOARS! Matinée Musicale Cincinnati
We’re Soaring with Beautiful Music and Song! Be There to Experience Dynamic Performances by These Established Artists and Rising Stars:
Claire Huangci, Piano Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 11 a.m.
Roman Rabinovich, Piano Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 11 a.m.
MEET THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Both Concerts at The Anderson Center, 7850 Five Mile Road
The Tempest Trio: Ilya Kaler, Violin; Amit Peled, Cello; Alon Goldstein, Piano Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 11 a.m. The Mayerson Jewish Community Center, 8485 Ridge Road
Ashu, Classical Saxophone
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 11 a.m. Church of the Redeemer 2944 Erie Avenue
Nadine Sierra, Soprano
Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 3 p.m. Westwood First Presbyterian Church 3011 Harrison Avenue
“For more than a century, the daytime series Matinée Musicale has introduced a Who’s Who of talent to Cincinnati.” - Janelle Gelfand, cincinnati.com
Season Ticket Packet $50
Five tickets - any ticket may be used for any 2015-16 Season concert Call 513-469-9819 or visit www.matinee-musicale-cincinnati.org
22 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Meet the Conductor ROBERT TREVIÑO Robert Treviño burst into the international spotlight in 2013 when he led a new production of Verdi’s Don Carlo substituting for Vasily Sinaisky at the Bolshoi Theater. The enthusiastic audience and Russian press praised Mr. Treviño saying “There has not been an American success of this magnitude in Moscow since Van Cliburn.” In New York, Mr. Treviño has appeared with the New York City Opera, as well as on the VOX: American Opera Series. In 2011, Mr. Treviño was selected by James Levine to be the Seiji Ozawa Conducting Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Festival. His mentors include David Zinman, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Louis Langrée, with whom he works closely as Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Last year Mr. Treviño became the Principal Conductor of the Shippensburg Music Festival. This season, Mr. Treviño will debut with the Bamberg Symphony, National Philharmonic of Russia, NHK Symphony, London Philharmonic, Danish Radio Symphony, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, and the Dresden and Munich Philharmonic Orchestras. An avid advocate and performer of contemporary music, Mr. Treviño has commissioned, premiered, and worked closely with many leading composers of today including Augusta Read Thomas, Jennifer Higdon, and others. He has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards from the Foundation for Contemporary Art, Gene Gutche Foundation, and the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Bryan, III Sue and Bill Friedlander Tom and Dee Stegman
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
MEET THE CONDUCTOR
Special thanks to the following donors for supporting the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s appearance at the 2015 Cincinnati World Piano Competition
23
Meet the Jury AKEMI ALINK-YAMAMOTO Japanese pianist Akemi Alink-Yamamoto began her studies at the age of three. Among her teachers were Junko Otake, Mitsuko Oguchi, Junko Yoshida, Dina Joffe, and Vadim Sakharov. In St. Petersburg, she studied with Pavel Egorov and Oleg Malov. She has played in master classes for Lazar Berman, Victor Merzhanov, Natalia Trull, and many others. In 2001, she relocated to Europe, where she worked with Naum Grubert. Ms. Yamamoto has won prizes in national and international competitions and played in important halls such as Suntory Hall and Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall. Since 2010, she has appeared regularly at Munetsugu Hall in Nagoya. Ms. Yamamoto regularly performs as a soloist and is also an active chamber musician. Apart from her performances, she is an in-demand teacher, and has written a series of articles for Chopin magazine, Japan, called Competition Reports From Across the World. Akemi Alink-Yamamoto is a board member of the Alink-Argerich Foundation. In the past 10 years, she has attended more than 100 competitions, and has been a jury member at piano and chamber music competitions throughout the world. Ms. Yamamoto enjoys mentoring young artists and arts professionals.
JURA MARGULIS Pianist Jura Margulis has been recognized for his compelling performances and consummate virtuosity. The Washington Post has applauded his “titanic reserves of sheer power” and his “effortless spontaneity.” Orchestral appearances include performances with the Russian National Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and others. He
2015 JURY
is a recipient of the Pro Europa prize awarded by the European Foundation for Culture. An active chamber musician, Mr. Margulis has performed with, among others, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Lilya ZIlberstein, the soloists of the Moscow Virtuosi, and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has concertized with Martha Argerich in Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and the USA. Mr. Margulis has penned “The Unified Piano School: A Synthesis of Piano Pedagogy and Performance Traditions,” which bridges the Russian and German school approaches to technique and style. He has recorded for Sony, Ars Musici, and Oehms Classics. These recordings have attracted substantial attention, including selection as a “reference recording” by Fono Forum. Mr. Margulis holds the Emily J. McAllister Endowed Professorship in Piano at the J.W. Fulbright College of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and is regularly invited to be a judge in international piano competitions.
24 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
YOSHIKAZU NAGAI Praised by audiences and critics alike for his fresh interpretations and dramatic style, Yoshikazu Nagai has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout Asia, Europe, and America. Mr. Nagai has appeared at many international music festivals, and his live performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio’s Performance Today, and on public radio stations in San Francisco, Houston, and Salt Lake City. Winner of numerous international piano competitions, including first prize at the 2002 Washington International, Mr. Nagai is also a major prizewinner of the San Antonio, New Orleans, and the Concert Artists Guild International Music competitions. Mr. Nagai studied with John Perry at Rice University and received his master of music degree with Paul Schenly from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He frequently gives master classes at universities and conservatories throughout the United States and Asia. Mr. Nagai also serves as an adjudicator of international piano competitions including the Gina Bachauer International, and Cincinnati World Piano competitions, among others. Mr. Nagai is currently Professor of Piano at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and on faculty at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy and the “Art of Piano” festival in Cincinnati.
BORIS SLUTSKY Acclaimed for his exquisite tone and superb artistry, Boris Slutsky has taken major prizes at the William Kapell International, the Kosciuszko Chopin, the San Antonio International, and the International Bach competitions, as well as many others. Mr. Slutsky made his orchestral debut at Carnegie Hall in 1980, and has since collaborated with such conductors as Dimitri Kitaenko and Valery Gergiev. He has in Spain, Russia, Colombia, and Brazil. In South Africa, he has appeared with the orchestras of Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. His North American engagements have included concerts with the Baltimore, Florida, Utah, and Toronto Symphonies. Mr. Slutsky has been heard on recital series throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and the Far
2015 JURY
performed with the London Philharmonic, the Stuttgart State Orchestra, and major orchestras
East. His chamber music collaborations include the critically acclaimed recording of Schumann’s Sonatas for Violin and Piano with Ilya Kaler on the Naxos label, and others. Mr. Slutsky has presented master classes throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, and served as a jury member for many competitions. Mr. Slutsky is on faculty at the Peabody Conservatory, where he currently serves as chair of the Piano Department.
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
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Meet the Jury FRANK WEINSTOCK Pianist Frank Weinstock has had a distinguished career as a performer, teacher, and adjudicator. His appearances as recitalist, soloist, and chamber musician have taken him throughout the United States, as well as to South America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. As concerto soloist, Mr. Weinstock has appeared with such conductors as Jesús López-Cobos, Erich Kunzel, Keith Lockhart, Jorge Mester, Gunther Schuller, Markand Thakar, and Luthero Rodrigues. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Weinstock has performed with the Tokyo and American String Quartets, Glen Dicterow, and with members of the Guarneri, LaSalle, Manhattan, and Berkshire Quartets. Frank Weinstock is Professor Emeritus of Piano at the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music where he taught for 31 years until his retirement in 2011. Towards the end of that time, he also served as that school’s associate dean and interim dean. He is featured in Benjamin Saver’s book, The Most Wanted Piano Teachers in the USA.
Mr. Weinstock holds degrees from the Oberlin and New England Conservatories of Music, and studied with Emil Danenberg, Victor Rosenbaum, Claude Frank, Lilian Kallir, and Edith Oppens.
Cris Collinsworth Western & Southern Spokesperson
2015 JURY
C in ci nn ati W orld Pian o Com petiti on
Spokesperson is a compensated endorser. Western & Southern Financial Group, Cincinnati, Ohio. WS 40044 1501
26 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Western & Southern has been a proud part of the Cincinnati area for over 125 years. This is my home, too, and that’s why I’m glad to be part of this dedicated team and its commitment to making Cincinnati a great place to live, work and play.
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ABOUT THE CSO The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is a dynamic ensemble of some of the world’s finest musicians. The fifth oldest symphony orchestra in the U.S. and the oldest orchestra in Ohio, the CSO has played a leading role in the cultural life of Greater Cincinnati and the Midwest since its founding in 1895. Louis Langrée began his tenure as the CSO’s 13th Music Director in the 2013–2014 season with a celebrated program The New York Times said “deftly combined nods to the orchestra’s history, the city’s musical life, and new music.” Over the Orchestra’s 120-year history, it has also been led by Leopold Stokowski, Eugène Ysaÿe, Fritz Reiner, Eugene Goossens, Max Rudolf, Thomas Schippers, Jesús López-Cobos, and Paavo Järvi, among others. The CSO has built a reputation as one of the world’s foremost orchestras, determined for greatness and heralded as a place of experimentation. This was on full display during the inaugural LUMENOCITY, a spectacular concert of live music combined with stunning images projected on the façade of Music Hall. This event in August of 2013 garnered international attention and drew 35,000 people over two nights. In August 2014, the audience grew to over 40,000, and has become a highlight of summer in Cincinnati. A champion of new music, the Orchestra has given American premieres of works by such composers as Debussy, Ravel,
Glass’ Cello Concerto No. 2, Naqoyqatsi, which was record-
Mahler, and Bartók and has commissioned works that have
ed and released in 2013 under the Orange Mountain label.
since become mainstays of the classical repertoire, including
The CSO was the first American orchestra to make a world
2015 CSO
Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. The CSO was the first
tour sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and continues to
orchestra to be broadcast to a national radio audience (1921)
tour domestically and internationally, most recently to Europe in
and the third to record (1917). The Orchestra continues to
2008 and to Japan in 2009, including two concerts at Tokyo’s
commission new works and to program an impressive array of
Suntory Hall and the CSO’s first-ever nationally televised concert
music. Most recently, the CSO performed the world premieres of
in Japan. The CSO has performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall
Nico Muhly’s Pleasure Ground, David Lang’s mountain, Caroline
48 times since its debut there in 1917, most recently to rave
Shaw’s Lo and Daníel Bjarnason’s Collider as part of the ground-
reviews in May of 2014.
breaking collaboration with the MusicNOW Festival, Cincinna-
The Orchestra also performs as the Cincinnati Pops under
ti’s premier new music festival, as well as the world premiere of
the direction of John Morris Russell, and the CSO is the official
André Previn’s Double Concerto in November 2014.
orchestra for the Cincinnati May Festival, Cincinnati Opera,
The Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra is Cincinnati’s ambassador with over 10 million units sold, many of which
Cincinnati Ballet, and the Cincinnati World Piano Competition. The CSO is Cincinnati’s own and committed to enhancing
have received Grammy awards and nominations. In January of
and expanding music education for the children of Greater Cin-
2010, the CSO launched its own record label, now known as
cinnati and works to bring music education, in its many different
Fanfare Cincinnati, which currently boasts six releases. In March
forms, to as broad a public as possible. Education and outreach
of 2012, the CSO performed the world premiere of Philip
programs currently serve more than 80,000 individuals annually.
28 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
LOUIS LANGRÉE, CSO Music Director
Robert Treviño, Associate Conductor
David G. Hakes & Kevin D. Brady Chair
Louise Dieterle Nippert & Louis Nippert Chair
William White, Assistant Conductor
Paavo Järvi, Music Director Laureate FIRST VIOLINS Timothy Lees Concertmaster Anna Sinton Taft Chair Rebecca Culnan ‡ Kathryn Woolley Acting Associate Concertmaster Tom & Dee Stegman Chair [Open] First Assistant Concertmaster James M. Ewell Chair ++ Anna Reider Acting First Assistant Concertmaster Dianne & J. David Rosenberg Chair Eric Bates Second Assistant Concertmaster Nicholas Tsimaras– Peter G. Courlas Chair ++ Sylvia Samis Assistant Concertmaster Emeritus Anne G. and Robert W. Dorsey Chair ++ Minyoung Baik Mauricio Aguiar § Serge Shababian Chair James Braid The Marc Bohlke Chair Given by Katrin and Manfred Bohlke Janet Carpenter † Michelle Edgar Dugan Rebecca Kruger Fryxell Gerald Itzkoff The Jean Ten Have Chair Lois Reid Johnson Sylvia Mitchell Jo Ann & Paul Ward Chair Luo-Jia Wu
CELLOS Ilya Finkelshteyn Principal Irene & John J. Emery Chair Daniel Culnan * Ona Hixson Dater Chair Norman Johns ** Karl & Roberta Schlachter Family Chair Matthew Lad § The Marvin Kolodzik Chair Susan Marshall-Petersen Laura Kimble McLellan Chair ++ Hiro Matsuo † Theodore Nelson Kenneth & Norita Aplin and Stanley Ragle Chair Alan Rafferty Ruth F. Rosevear Chair Charles Snavely Peter G. Courlas– Nicholas Tsimaras Chair ++ BASSES Owen Lee Principal Mary Alice Heekin Burke Chair ++ James Lambert * Matthew Zory, Jr. **+ Trish and Rick Bryan Chair Wayne Anderson § Boris Astafiev Ronald Bozicevich Rick Vizachero HARP Gillian Benet Sella Principal Cynthia & Frank Stewart Chair FLUTES Randolph Bowman Principal Charles Frederic Goss Chair Amy Taylor † Jane & David Ellis Chair Henrik Heide *†
PICCOLO Joan Voorhees Patricia Gross Linnemann Chair OBOES Dwight Parry Principal Josephine I. & David J. Joseph, Jr. Chair Richard Johnson Donald & Margaret Robinson Chair ++ Lon Bussell * ENGLISH HORN Christopher Philpotts Principal Alberta & Dr. Maurice Marsh Chair++ CLARINETS Jonathan Gunn Principal Emma Margaret & Irving D. Goldman Chair Ixi Chen Vicky and Rick Reynolds Chair in Honor of William A. Friedlander Benjamin Freimuth *† Robert E. & Fay Boeh Chair ++ BASS CLARINET Ronald Aufmann BASSOONS William Winstead Principal Emalee Schavel Chair++ Hugh Michie Martin Garcia* CONTRABASSOON Jennifer Monroe FRENCH HORNS Elizabeth Freimuth Principal Mary M. & Charles F. Yeiser Chair Thomas Sherwood * Ellen A. & Richard C. Berghamer Chair Elizabeth Porter **† Lisa Conway Susanne and Philip O. Geier, Jr. Chair Duane Dugger Mary and Joseph Stern, Jr. Chair Charles Bell
TRUMPETS Matthew Ernst Principal Rawson Chair Douglas Lindsay* The Jackie and Roy Sweeney Family Chair Steven Pride Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Chair ++ Christopher Kiradjieff ** TROMBONES Cristian Ganicenco Principal Dorothy & John Hermanies Chair Richard Harris † BASS TROMBONE Peter Norton TUBA Carson McTeer † Principal
LIBRARIANS Mary Judge Principal Lois Klein Jolson Chair Christina Eaton* Matthew Gray Assistant Librarian STAGE MANAGERS Joseph D. Hopper Ralph LaRocco, Jr. John D. Murphy § Begins the alphabetical listing of players who participate in a system of rotated seating within the string section. * Associate Principal ** Assistant Principal † One-year appointment ‡ Leave of absence + Cincinnati Pops rhythm section ++ CSO endowment only
TIMPANI Patrick Schleker Principal Matthew & Peg Woodside Chair Richard Jensen* Morleen & Jack Rouse Chair PERCUSSION David Fishlock Principal Susan S. & William A. Friedlander Chair Richard Jensen *† Morleen & Jack Rouse Chair Pedro Fernandez † Marc Wolfley + KEYBOARDS Michael Chertock James P. Thornton Chair Julie Spangler + James P. Thornton Chair GUITAR/BANJO Timothy Berens +
2015 CSO
SECOND VIOLINS Gabriel Pegis Principal Al Levinson Chair [Open]* Harold B. & Betty Justice Chair Scott Mozlin Acting Associate Principal The Henry Meyer Chair Kun Dong Acting Assistant Principal Cheryl Benedict Drake Crittenden Ash § Harold Byers Ida Ringling North Chair Chiun-Teng Cheng Chika Kinderman Paige Kossuth † Hye-Sun Park Paul Patterson Charles Gausmann Chair ++ Sung Hee Shin† Stacey Woolley Brenda & Ralph Taylor Chair ++
VIOLAS Christian Colberg Principal Louise D. & Louis Nippert Chair Paul Frankenfeld * Grace M. Allen Chair Julian Wilkison ** Marna Street Principal Emeritus Rebecca Barnes †§ Belinda Burge † Stephen Fryxell Gi Yeon Koh † Denisse Rodriguez-Rivera Steven Rosen Melinda and Irwin Simon Chair Joanne Wojtowicz
ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL Walter Zeschin, Director Nathan Lutz, Assistant
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
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CCM Staff Support Office of the Dean Jane Whipple Assistant to the Dean
Facilities & Performance Services John McDonagh Director
Summer Programs Sara Danner Dukic Director
Performance Management Rayburn Dobson, Jr. Senior Director, Performance Operations
Patrick Kevin Electronic Media
Piano Services Eric Wolfley Director
Kseniia Polstiankina Administrative Assistant Christopher Slaughter Administrative Assistant
Rebekah Wortman Piano Technician Public Relations Curt Whitacre Public Information Officer Kiley Brodeur Marketing and Promotions Coordinator
2015 CCM STAFF 30 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
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Meet the Competitors NINO BAKRADZE GEORGIA • AGE 30 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
University of Arizona
New England Conservatory
The Boston Conservatory
Tbilisi V. Sarajishvili State Conservatory
COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
Nino Bakradze was born in Tbilisi, Georgia into a family of musicians. From a very early age, she has presented piano recitals worldwide including Finland, Poland, Armenia, Georgia, China, Spain, Brazil, and the USA. In 2014, she was a Prizewinner in Spain’s Maria Canals
2015: Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition (USA), Special Award: Most outstanding Arizona pianist in the Bösendorfer competition 2014: President’s Competition of University of Arizona, Winner 2014: Maria Canals International Piano Competition (Spain), Special Prize: Best Performance of a Spanish Work 2012: BNDES International Piano Competition of Rio de Janeiro, Third Place 2012: New England Conservatory Piano Honors Competition, Winner
FIRST ROUND Scarlatti
Sonata in D minor, K. 213 Sonata in A major, K. 39
International Piano Competition, and in 2012, she was awarded Third Place
Prokofiev
at the BNDS International Piano Com-
SECOND ROUND
petition of Rio de Janeiro. She won both New England Conservatory’s Concerto Competition and the Piano Honors Competition. Ms. Bakradze was a prizewinner at the International A. Khachaturian
2015 COMPETITORS
Competition in Armenia, and at the J. Flier
2011: New England Conservatory Concerto Competition, Winner 2008: J. Flier International Piano Competition (USA), Second Place 2007: International A. Khachaturian Competition (Armenia), Special Prize: Best Performance of a Khachaturian Composition 2007: Roza Rozhok and Emil Gurevich Young Georgian Piano Competition, First Place 2006: The N. Gabunia Third National Competition (Georgia), First Place
Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 28
Chopin
Étude No. 6 in G-sharp minor, Op. 25
Rachmaninoff
Études-tableaux No. 9 in D major, Op. 39
Variations brillantes, Op. 12
THIRD ROUND
International Piano Competition. Awards
Debussy
Estampes (1903)
from within her home country include First
Gounod/Liszt
Valse de l’opéra Faust de Gounod
Place at the N. Gabunia National Competition and the R. Rozhok and E.Gurev-
SEMIFINAL ROUND
ich Young Georgian Piano Competitions.
Haydn
Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:50
Gabunia
Children’s Pieces for Grown-Ups Crooning to the Handbell March Ketch Me If You Can Valse
Balakirev
Islamey, Op. 18
FINAL ROUND Rachmaninoff
32 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
HANQING CHANG CHINA • AGE 27 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2013: College-Conservatory of Music Piano Competition, Winner 2013: World Piano Competition, Semifinalist 2013: Virginia Waring International Piano Competition (USA), Semifinalist 2007: HGS National Piano Competition (China), First Prize 2005: Asian Youth Music International Competition (China), Second Prize 2004: Klavierwettbewerb Wiesbaden International Piano Competition (Germany), First Prize Hanqing Chang started playing the piano at the age of 4 and began her formal music education at the age of 12. She received several scholarships to pursue her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree studies. Ms. Chang has appeared in concert venues throughout cities in China, Hong Kong, Germany, the United States, and Singapore. At the age of 10, Ms. Chang began performing publicly. She performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 with the GuiYang Symphony Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing to critical praise; the New Post
2004: Asian Chopin International Piano Competition (China), Senior Division First Prize
FIRST ROUND Scarlatti
Sonata in D minor, K. 141 Chopin
Liszt
Gubaidulina
Chaconne
Ravel
Gaspard de la nuit: Trois poèmes d’après Aloysius Bertrand Scarbo
Brahms
extraordinary performance.”
7 Fantasien, Op. 116 I. Capriccio in D minor, Presto energico II. Intermezzo in A minor, Andante III. Capriccio in G minor, Allegro passionato
ing of octaves and sustaining harmony
Chang conquered the audience with her
Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254, R. 90
THIRD ROUND
audience was transfixed instantly. Leap-
notes slipped through her fingertips. Ms.
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
SECOND ROUND
dies filled the concert hall whilst the whole
portrayed a ballet on stage until the last
Sonata in E major, K. 380
SEMIFINAL ROUND Beethoven
Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10, No. 3
Scriabin
Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 19
Rachmaninoff
Études-tableaux No. 1 in C minor, Op. 39
2015 COMPETITORS
Styles Weekly wrote, “Passionate melo-
2004: Xinhai National Piano Competition (China), First Prize
FINAL ROUND Tchaikovsky
Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
33
Meet the Competitors SUNG CHANG SOUTH KOREA • AGE 28 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover Korea National University of Arts COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2015: Bösendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competition (USA), First Prize 2013: Caraglio International Piano Competition (Italy), First Prize 2013: Antonio Napolitano International Piano Competition (Italy), Second Prize 2011: Schubert Competition for Piano Duos (Czech Republic), First Prize, Schubert Special Prize 2011: Chopin-Gesellschaft Hannover International Piano Competition (Germany), First Prize and Audience Prize 2009: Valsesia Musica International Competition (Italy), First Prize 2004: Nagoya International Piano Competition (Japan), First Prize, Chamber Music Special After Sung Chang completed his un-
Prize, Japan Expo Special Prize
dergraduate studies at the Korea National University of Arts, he continued his education at the University of Music, Drama, and Media in Hannover, Germany. Mr. Chang has won first prizes in many international competitions, such as the Chopin International Competition, Nagoya International Piano Competition, and Valsesia Musica International Competition. He has performed many concerts across the globe, most recently in Germany, Netherland, Czech Republic, USA, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Mr. Chang cur-
2015 COMPETITORS
rently resides in Hannover, Germany, where he studies at the Hochschule für Musik Theater und Medien Hannover.
FIRST ROUND Scarlatti
Sonata in G major, K. 455
Scarlatti
Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp major, Op. 30
Sonata in D major, K. 427
SECOND ROUND Ravel
La valse (1919–20)
THIRD ROUND Hersch
Tenebrae (2010)
Liszt
Liebesträume, S. 541 Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254, R. 90
Mendelssohn/
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Rachmaninoff
Scherzo in D minor
SEMIFINAL ROUND Haydn
Sonata in E major, Hob. XVI:31
Chopin
Étude No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 10
FINAL ROUND Beethoven
34 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
YUVAL GILAD ISRAEL • AGE 22 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Mannes College of Music The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel-Aviv University COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2013: International Rotary Piano Competition (Spain), Finalist and Special-Prize (Best Execution of a Mozart Sonata) 2013: International Piano Competition Massarosa (Italy), Second Prize 2013: International Lyons Piano Competition (Turkey), Finalist 2013: Psanter Letamid Competition (Israel), Second Prize 2012: Katcz Competition (Israel), First Prize 2011: Pnina Salzman Competition (Israel), Second Prize 2006: Turjeman Competition (Israel), First Prize Yuval Gilad was born in Israel in 1992,
2003: International Bartok-Prokofiev-Kabalevsly Competition (USA), Second Prize
and started playing the piano at the age of 6. At age 9, he performed as soloist with the Jerusalem Symphony and soon thereafter with the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, Israeli Stage Orchestra, Haifa Symphony Orchestra, Ashdod Symphony, and Kiev Kamerata. Gilad performed as a soloist and
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 885 Schumann
Buenos Aires, The National Philharmonic of Ukraine in Kiev, and Carnegie Hall in New York. In 2015, he will perform a solo recital at the Menuhin Festival in
Debussy
Yuval has received America Israel Cultural Foundation excellence scholarships since 2004.
Préludes, Book I Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir (1910)
SECOND ROUND Bartók
Suite, Op. 14, Sz. 62
Chopin
Ballade No. 2 in F major, Op. 38
THIRD ROUND Ravel
Miroirs Noctuelles
Corigliano
Fantasia on an Ostinato (1985)
Schumann
Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
SEMIFINAL ROUND J.S. Bach
Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827
Beethoven
Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Chopin
Mazurka No. 22 in G-sharp minor, Op. 33, No. 1
2015 COMPETITORS
Gstaad, Switzerland.
8 Novelletten, Op. 21 II. Äußerst rasch und mit Bravour
recitalist both in Israel and abroad in the KHS Hall in Taipei, Teatro Colon in
Prelude and Fugue in G minor from
Mazurka No. 4 in A-flat major, Op. 41 Mazurka No. 3 in C major, Op. 33 Mazurka No. 4 in A-flat major, Op. 7
FINAL ROUND Beethoven
Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
35
Meet the Competitors SAETBYEOL KIM SOUTH KOREA • AGE 26 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory Eastman School of Music Seoul National University COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2012: Rochester Philharmonic Concerto Competition, First Prize 2012: Music Educational Competition (Korea), First Prize 2010: Shinye Music Competition (Korea), First Prize 2010: Korea Music Newspaper Competition, First Prize 2009: Liszt Competition (Seoul), Honorable Mention 2005: TBC Broadcast Competition (Korea), Third Prize Saetbyeol Kim, from South Korea, began her musical studies at the age of 5. Ten years later she began competing in piano competitions in her home country. At the age of 16, Ms. Kim successfully debuted with the Pohang Philharmonic Orchestra after receiving the Talented Teenagers National Award. In addition, Ms. Kim has participated in a number of festivals, including the Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival, Tong-Yeong International Music Festival, and the Beijing International Music Festival & Academy. She was invited as the guest artist to perform a solo recital at ‘Rising Star Concert’ at
2015 COMPETITORS
the Texas State International Piano Festival in 2014.
FIRST ROUND Scarlatti
Sonata in B minor, K. 27
Scarlatti
Sonata in D major, K. 492
Kapustin
Variations for Piano, Op. 41 (1984)
SECOND ROUND Liszt
Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254, R. 90
THIRD ROUND Mozart
Fantasia in D minor, K. 397
Rachmaninoff
Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36
SEMIFINAL ROUND Haydn
Sonata in A-flat major, Hob. XVI:46
Chopin
Andante spianato et Grande polonaise brillante, Op. 22
Ravel
La valse (1919–20)
FINAL ROUND Tchaikovsky
36 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
SUNGPIL KIM USA • AGE 26 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University Juilliard Pre-College COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2014: Concert Artist Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition (USA), Semifinalist 2013: Wideman International Piano Competition (USA), Semifinalist 2012: Campillos International Piano Competition (Spain), Semifinalist 2011: Jefferson Symphony International Artist Competition (USA), First Prize 2010: Isang Yun International Music Competition (South Korea), Fourth Prize, 2009: Manchester International Concerto Competition for Young Pianists, Third Prize 2009: South Orange Symphony Orchestra’s Artist Competition, First Prize Pianist Sungpil Kim has been praised for his “...finely controlled...varied colour...magic in its atmosphere, individuality and poise along with considerable technical finesse,” by International Piano Magazine. He has performed as a soloist with the Manchester Camerata in England and the Changwon
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Italian Concerto, BWV 971
Mozart/
“Turkish March” from Sonata in A major, K. 331
Volodos
SECOND ROUND Chopin
Andante spianato et Grande polonaise brillante, Op. 22
Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra in Tongyeong, Korea. In August 2014, Mr. Kim gave a recital as part of Yamaha’s Rising Artist Series in Seoul, Korea. Most recently, he presented a recital as a part of the House Concert Series in Seoul, Korea. album as a singer-songwriter and began working as a spiritual lecturer. A prolific sacred music composer, he has written and premiered numerous choral works, among which the most praised are his
THIRD ROUND Liszt
Sonata in B minor, S. 178
SEMIFINAL ROUND Debussy
Préludes, Book I
Beethoven
Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, Waldstein
Hersch
La cathédrale engloutie (1910) Tenebrae (2010)
FINAL ROUND Chopin
Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
Gloria, Magnificat, and Ave Maria.
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
2015 COMPETITORS
In 2013, Mr. Kim released his debut
Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 42
37
Meet the Competitors YOUKYOUNG KIM SOUTH KOREA • AGE 28 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Seoul National University, College of Music COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2013: College-Conservatory of Music Piano Concerto Competition (USA), First Prize 2010: Korea Chopin Competition, First Prize 2009: Eumyoun Competition (Korea), First Prize 2009: Samick-Seiler Piano Competition (Korea), Second Prize 2007: Suri Music Competition (Korea), Third Prize 2007: Eumag Chunchu Magazine Competition (Korea), Second Prize 2005: International Piano Magazine Competition of Korea, Second Prize Born in Busan, South Korea, Youkyoung Kim began her piano studies at the age of 5. Ms. Kim has participated in a wide variety of festivals, including
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach Liszt
Academy, and the International Summer Music Festival in Cleve, Germany. She has an abundance of performing
SECOND ROUND Beethoven
Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a
Rakowski
Piano Études 25. Fists of Fury (1999)
experience and has given many recitals as a soloist and a collaborative artist throughout several venues in South Korea, Germany, and the United States, including Pan Kunstforum Niederrhein, Seoul National University College of
2015 COMPETITORS
Music Concert Hall, Robert J. Werner Hall, and Watson Hall. She was selected as a Young Artist Performer in Korea, allowing her to perform in Youngsan Art Hall. Recently, she performed as a guest
Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141 No. 6 in A minor, Quasi Presto
Art of the Piano at CCM, the Seoul National University International Piano
French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816
THIRD ROUND Prokofiev
Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82
SEMIFINAL ROUND Schubert
Fantasie in C major, D. 760
Chopin
Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35
FINAL ROUND Chopin
artist in Britton Recital Hall at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
38 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
JOSEPH STERN KINGMA USA • AGE 26 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
University of Texas Rice University COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2013: World Piano Competition, Participant 2012: Sorantin International Young Artist Competition (USA), Honorable Mention 2012: New Orleans International Piano Competition, Semifinalist 2011: Brevard Music Festival Concerto Competition (USA), Winner 2011: Concert Artist Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition (USA), Semifinalist 2010: Brevard Music Festival Piano Competition, Second Prize 2010: Rice University Concerto Competition, Honorable Mention Award-winning pianist Joseph Stern Kingma has been praised by the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans for his “dazzling technique,” and his interpretation of Liszt’s Sonata in B minor was described as an “especially personal account.” Mr. Kingma has been invited for performance and master class engagements across the United States. This season, he has appeared with the Manassas Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Brazos Chamber Orchestra, along with other solo engagements in Chicago, Austin, Dallas, and Houston. wood Music School and Houston’s First Baptist School of Fine Arts. He was also a jury member for the first annu-
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816
Chopin
Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39
SECOND ROUND Chopin
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
Rachmaninoff
Études-tableaux Nos. 2, 6 and 7, Op. 33
THIRD ROUND Liszt
Sonata in B minor, S. 178
SEMIFINAL ROUND Mozart
Sonata No. 9 in D major, K. 311
Rachmaninoff
Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36 (original version)
FINAL ROUND Rachmaninoff
Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1
al Houston Music Teachers Association Bach-Baroque Festival Competition.
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
2015 COMPETITORS
Mr. Kingma has taught at the King-
2010: American Paderewski International Piano Competition, Semifinalist
39
Meet the Competitors ALEXANDER KOSTRITSA RUSSIA • AGE 26 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Cleveland Institute of Music Moscow Conservatory COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2010: Paul Badura-Skoda (Spain), Finalist 2007: Premio Rovere d’Oro (Italy), First Prize 2007: Slavic Music Festival (Ukraine), Laureate
Alexander Kostritsa was born into a musical family in Moscow and started his piano lessons at the age of 6. He made his international debut when he was 8 years old with a concert tour to Japan. Since then, he has been performing as a soloist in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, South Korea, and the United States. Mr. Kostritsa recently released his debut album, Three Generations of Mazurkas, on the Divine Art label in 2014. This year additional recordings will be released on the Grand Piano and Centaur labels. Mr. Kostritsa has performed with Moscow Chamber Orchestra,
2015 COMPETITORS
Kursk University Orchestra, and Vidin Philharmonic, among others.
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Italienisches Konzert, BWV 971
SECOND ROUND Liszt/Rossini
Overture to William Tell, S. 552
THIRD ROUND Hersch
Tenebrae (2010)
Liszt
Réminiscences de Lucia di Lammermoor, S. 397
Liszt/Schubert
Schwanengesang, D. 957
Chopin
Étude No. 12 in C minor, Op. 10
Rachmaninoff
Études-tableaux No. 4 in B minor, Op. 39
Ständchen
SEMIFINAL ROUND Beethoven
Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a
Liszt/
Adelaide, S. 466/R. 121
Beethoven Ravel
Miroirs
Szymanowski
Mazurkas Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 20, Op. 50 (1924-25)
Une Barque sur l’ocean
FINAL ROUND Beethoven
40 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 37
EUNAE LEE SOUTH KOREA • AGE 27 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Northwestern University Mannes College of Music The Juilliard School COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2015: Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition, Second Prize and Yehuda Meir memorial award for the most outstanding artistic performance of an étude of Chopin 2014: Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Third Prize 2011: ARD International Music Competition (Munich), Alice Rosnet Prize for Bartók interpretation; Bärenreiter Urtext Prize
EunAe Lee began formal piano study at age 9, and from a young age dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. She was born in Seoul, Korea, and moved to the United States in 2004. As a winner of the Karlfied Normann Scholarship Competition, Ms. Lee received a full scholarship to Juilliard Pre-college. Ms. Lee later received the L&M Burle Scholarship, William Petschek Scholarship, Susan W. Rose Piano Fellowship, G. G. Ulmer Memorial Scholarship, Joseph Louis Spencer & Zylpha Allen Spencer Scholarship, and Alice D. Netter Scholarship at the Juilliard School, where she enrolled in Juilliard’s prestigious five-year accelerated Bachelor’s and Master’s degree program. Performance highlights include solo and chamber appearances in Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Peter Jay
J.S. Bach
Sonata in G minor, K. 426
J.S. Bach
Sonata in G major, K. 455
Chopin
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
SECOND ROUND J.S. Bach
Prelude and Fugue in G minor from
Liszt
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-sharp minor, S. 244/12
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 861
THIRD ROUND Auerbach
Prelude No. 24 in D minor
Beethoven
Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110
SEMIFINAL ROUND Haydn
Sonata in B-flat major, Hob. XVI:41
Debussy
Étude No. 11, “Pour les arpèges composés” (1915)
Chopin
Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58
FINAL ROUND Tchaikovsky
Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
Sharp Theatre, Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Merkin Hall, Flushing
2015 COMPETITORS
was one of a select few students who
FIRST ROUND
Town Hall, and the Mannes Concert Hall, among others.
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
41
Meet the Competitors NARAE LEE SOUTH KOREA • AGE 24 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
Korean-born pianist Narae Lee began to play the piano at the age of 7 and made her official debut at the Rising Young Stars Concert a year later. As a winner of the Seoul Philharmonic Concerto Competition, Ms. Lee made her orchestral debut with Seoul Philharmonic the 18th Annual Concert at the National Theater of Korea in 2009. As a soloist, she has appeared at the New Artists Series Recital, the Sam-
2014: Hilton Head Piano Competition, Participant 2013: Nanpa Music Competition (Korea), Third Place 2012: Samick-Seiler Piano Competition (Korea), First Place 2011: Seoul Philharmonic Competition (Korea), First Place 2011: Sungjung Music Competition (Korea), Third Place 2011: Music Chunchu Competition (Korea), Second Place 2010: Korea Chopin Competition (Adult Division), Second Place
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Prelude and Fugue in G minor from
Balakirev
Islamey, Op. 18
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 885
ick-Seiler New Artists Concert at Young-
SECOND ROUND
san Art Hall, the Korea Mozart New
Brahms
Year’s Eve concert at Mozart Hall, and as part of the Music Education Newspaper Competition Winners Concert. Ms. Lee
2015 COMPETITORS
recently performed with the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra, and has won numerous national and international prizes.
2009: Osaka International Competition (Japan), Second Place; 21c Artist Award and Uppermost Performer of Grand Final Stage 2008: International Chopin Piano Competition, Encouragement Award 2008: Korea-Germany Brahms Competition (Korea), First Place 2008: Korea Czerny Society Competition, Grand Award 2008: Seoul Music Competition (Korea), Bronze Medal 2008: Korea Mozart Competition, The Highest Award
Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Book I, Op. 35
THIRD ROUND Schumann
Symphonic Études, Op. 13
Ravel
La valse (1919-20)
SEMIFINAL ROUND Beethoven
Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a
Chopin
Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 55
Liszt
Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi sonata
FINAL ROUND Rachmaninoff
42 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
YU MI LEE SOUTH KOREA • AGE 32 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Hochschule für Musik, Theater, und Medien Hannover Seoul National University COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2013: Alfred Cortot International Piano Competition (Italy), First Prize 2013: Teresa Llacuna International Piano Competition (France), Second Prize 2011: Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition (Italy), Finalist 2010: Vianna da Motta International Piano Competition (Portugal), Semifinalist 2008: Berlin International Music Competition, First Prize 2008: Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition (Spain), Sixth Prize
Yu Mi Lee gives solo and orchestral concerts throughout the world, and has been praised for her sensitive and rousing performances. Ms. Lee celebrated her
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826
Rachmaninoff
Six moments musicaux, Op. 16 IV. Presto in E minor
official European debut with a concert in Prague and has played with the Valencia Philharmonic Orchestra (Spain),
SECOND ROUND
the Voronezh Philharmonic Orchestra
Haydn
Sonata in G minor, Hob. XVI:44
(Russia), the North Czech Philharmonic
Scriabin
Fantasie in B minor, Op. 28
Orchestra and the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic), and many
THIRD ROUND
others. In addition, she has appeared
Schumann
Fantasia
in concert many times in South Korea.
Brahms
Sechs Klavierstücke, Op. 118
In 2012, as a Young Representative of Korea, Ms. Lee was invited to a gala
SEMIFINAL ROUND Beethoven
Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14, No. 1
in Bonn. Invitations from the Association
Liszt
Valse-Impromptu, S. 213
Alfred Cortot to Italy, and to other presti-
Rachmaninoff
Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36 (revised version)
gious music festivals, followed.
FINAL ROUND Rachmaninoff
Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
2015 COMPETITORS
concert of the Korea Music Association
43
Meet the Competitors SHING-MING LIAO TAIWAN • AGE 30 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music Taipei National University of the Arts
Shing-Ming Liao is a pianist from Taiwan. While studying in her native country, she was active both as a solo pianist and a collaborative pianist in performing arts and theatrical performances. During her tenure at the Jacobs School
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
SECOND ROUND Debussy
concerto concerts, and chamber recit-
Poissons d’or Albéniz
the Yamaha Music Education System and also gave lecture recitals for orga-
THIRD ROUND Albéniz
Iberia, Book I Evocación
nizations such as the Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center.
Iberia, Book I Fête-dieu à Seville
als of the school. Between 2010 and 2013, she worked as an instructor of
Images, Book II Cloches à travers les feuilles
of Music, she built her art song repertoire and starred in ballet performances,
English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807
El puerto
2015 COMPETITORS
Bartók
8 Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20
Schubert
Sonata in A minor, D. 537
SEMIFINAL ROUND Mozart
Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330
Scriabin
Sonata No. 5, Op. 53
Franck
Prélude, choral et fugue
FINAL ROUND Chopin
44 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
FANYA LIN TAIWAN • AGE 25 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
The Juilliard School Weber State University COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
Fanya Lin was born in Taipei, Taiwan. She began formal piano study at the age of 4, and even in her youth dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. Since coming to the United States, Ms. Lin has performed with Aurora Symphony, Grand
2013: Russian Music International Piano Competition, Jury Special Award 2013: American Protege International Competition, First Place; Best Performance Award 2012: Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, First Place 2012: Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, First Place 2011: Seattle International Piano Competition, Second Place 2011: Aurora Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, First Place
2010: New York International Piano Competition (Duet Category), Second Place 2010: Music Teachers National Association Competition, First Place 2010: Steinway Young Artist National Piano Competition, Participant 2009: Utah Music Teacher Association Concerto Competition, First Place 2009: Beethoven Club International Piano Competition, Third Place 2009: Snowy Range Piano Competition, First Place
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Toccata in C minor, BWV 911
Savannah Philharmonic. Furthermore, Fa-
Prokofiev
Toccata in D minor, Op. 11
nya was invited as a guest artist for Sid
SECOND ROUND
Junction Symphony, Utah Symphony, and
& Mary Foulger International Music Festival, and appointed as the collaborative pianist for New York International Piano Competition. As an interactive performer
Chopin
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
Chopin
Étude No. 6 in G-sharp minor, Op. 25
Liszt
Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141 No. 3 in G-sharp minor, La Campanella
for The Gluck Fellowship at Juilliard, she has given performances at rehabilitation and other healthcare facilities in New
THIRD ROUND J.S. Bach
York. Ms. Lin has been described as a “striking interpreter” (Musical America)
Scriabin
who gives a “committed and heartfelt
Liebermann
performance” (The New York Times).
Prelude and Fugue in F-sharp minor from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 883 Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp minor, Op. 19 Gargoyles, Op. 29 (1989)
SEMIFINAL ROUND Mozart
Sonata No. 13 in B-flat major, K. 333/315c
Schumann
Fantasiestücke, Op. 12
2015 COMPETITORS
centers, nursing homes, trauma units,
FINAL ROUND Prokofiev
Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
45
Meet the Competitors EKATERINA LITVINTSEVA RUSSIA • AGE 28 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Moscow State Chopin College Maimonides Classical Piano Academy (Moscow) Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln Hochschule für Musik Würzburg COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2014: International Piano Competition Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem (Morocco), Third Prize 2014: Concorso Internazionale per Pianoforte e Orchestra (Italy), Second Prize 2012: Lions Club Remscheid Piano Competition (Germany), First Prize 2012: Medenus Piano Festival (Germany), First Prize Ekaterina Litvintseva has played with such ensembles as the State Academic Chamber Orchestra of Russia, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and the Arad State Philharmonic (Romania). She has also appeared with the Klassische
2008: Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes Concerto Competition (Israel), Third Prize
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 883 Liszt
also played in some of Germany’s best
Etudes d’exécution transcendante, S. 139 No. 12 in B-flat minor, Chasse-neige
Philharmonie Bonn under the direction of Heribert Beissel, with whom she has
Prelude and Fugue in F-sharp minor from
SECOND ROUND
known venues such as Berlin’s Konzer-
Mozart
Rondo No. 1 in D major, K. 485
thaus, the Liederhalle in Stuttgart, the
Corigliano
Fantasia on an Ostinato (1985)
Beethovenhalle in Bonn, the Meisters-
2015 COMPETITORS
ingerhalle in Nürnberg, and the NDR
THIRD ROUND
Funkhaus in Hanover, among others. In
Schuber
Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946
2013, Ms. Litvintseva recorded Mo-
Chopin
Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 47
zart’s piano concertos Nos. 9 and 12
Prokofiev
Toccata in D minor, Op. 11 (1916)
with the Classical Philharmonic Bonn under the baton of Heribert Beissel. Ms.
SEMIFINAL ROUND
Litvintseva has a predilection for Sergey
Beethoven
Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Chopin
Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35
Rachmaninoff, whose early piano works she recorded for radio in 2014.
FINAL ROUND Rachmaninoff
46 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1
HIDEMI MINAGAWA JAPAN • AGE 22 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
University of Michigan COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2015: University of Michigan School of Music Theatre & Dance Concerto Competition, Winner 2015: MTNA Competition, Michigan State Level, Alternate 2014: MTNA Competition, East Central Ohio Division, Honorable Mention 2012: Jacob Flier Piano Competition (USA), Winner
Japanese pianist Hidemi Minagawa started her piano studies at the age of 2, and was a prizewinner in several competitions in the Hong Kong/ Macau area throughout her childhood and adolescence. Her performances include concerto appearances with the SAR Philharmonic Orchestra in Hong Kong, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic in the USA, and chamber performances for Japan’s NHK radio, NPR’s The Front Row, and Houston Young Artists' Concert. She has also performed at Steinway Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Prelude and Fugue in B major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 892
Scriabin
Fantasie in B minor, Op. 28
SECOND ROUND Bartók
For Children, Vol. 1 No. 40, Swineherd’s Dance
Beethoven
Fantasia in G minor, Op. 77
Rachmaninoff
Études-tableaux No. 8 in C-sharp minor, Op. 33
THIRD ROUND Bach/Busoni
10 Chorale Preludes
Chopin
Fantasie in F minor, Op. 49
Albright
The Dream Rags
Nun freut euch, lieben Christen, BWV 734
Debussy
L’Isle joyeuse, L. 106
SEMIFINAL ROUND Beethoven
Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2, No. 2
Liszt
Bagatelle sans tonalité, S. 216a Années de pèlerinage II
2015 COMPETITORS
Nightmare Fantasy Rag
Sonetto 123 del Petrarca 2 Polonaises, S. 223 No. 2 in E Major
FINAL ROUND Rachmaninoff
Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
47
Meet the Competitors OSIP NIKIFOROV RUSSIA • AGE 20 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
University of Minnesota COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2014: Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, Participant 2014: MTNA Young Artist Competition, First Prize 2013: Schubert Club Competition, First Prize 2011: International Adilia Alieva Piano Competition (France), Prix Jeune Espoir 2008: International Piano-e-Competition (USA), Third Prize 2007: International Gavrilin Piano Competition (Russia), First Prize
Siberian pianist Osip Nikiforov has won numerous awards in national and international competitions including the 1st annual e-Piano Junior, the Music Teacher National Association, the Hamamatsu International, and the Schubert Club National piano competitions.
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Prelude and Fugue in C major from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 846
Corigliano
Fantasia on an Ostinato (1985)
SECOND ROUND Mompou
Trois Variations (1921)
Brahms
Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book II
formed Beethoven’s third concerto with
Scriabin
Étude No. 12 in D-sharp minor, Op. 8
the Minnesota Orchestra, and has been
THIRD ROUND
Mr. Nikiforov immigrated to the United States in 2010. Recently, he per-
heard on Minnesota public radio and appeared in the Star Tribune. He has
Chopin
traveled back to Russia several times
SEMIFINAL ROUND
since 2010, most recently to perform
2015 COMPETITORS
Prokofiev’s second concerto.
Études, Op. 25
Ravel
Gaspard de la nuit: Trois poèmes d’après Aloysius Bertrand
Beethoven
Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
FINAL ROUND Prokofiev
48 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16
OLEKSANDR POLIYKOV UKRAINE • AGE 27 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Boston Conservatory National Music Academy of Ukraine COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2011: Liszt Competition, Third Prize 2009: Liszt Competition (Weimar-Bayreuth), Second Prize 2008: Steinway Society Competition, First Prize 2007: International Piano Competition in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz (Ukraine), Third Prize
Ukrainian pianist Oleksandr Poliykov was awarded the MacKenzie Prize at the 2012 International keyboard Institute & Festival in New York, and has medaled at competitions such as the Franz Liszt and Steinway Society (Boston) competitions, the Cliburn Competition, as well as the International Piano Competition in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz. Mr. Poliykov is deeply interested in conducting as well as performing, and in 2013–14 he performed and recorded Beethoven’s fifth and Liszt’s second concerti conducting from the keyboard. He is regularly invited to give master classes on faculty at the National Music Academy of Ukraine since 2010.
J.S. Bach
Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in C-sharp minor from
Bach-Kempff
Siciliano from Flute Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, BWV 1031
Scriabin
Étude No. 12 in D-sharp minor, Op. 8
Wagner/Liszt
Isoldens Liebestod, S. 447
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 848
SECOND ROUND Albéniz
Iberia, Book II
Tchaikovsky/
Scherzo from Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74
Triana Feinberg
THIRD ROUND Liszt
Sonata in B minor, S. 178
SEMIFINAL ROUND Haydn
Sonata in A-flat major, Hob. XVI:46
Brahms
Acht Klavierstücke, Op. 76 Intermezzo in A-flat major
Skoryk
Burlesque (1964)
Stravinsky/
The Firebird Suite
Agosti
2015 COMPETITORS
in the U.S. and Europe, and has been
FIRST ROUND
FINAL ROUND Prokofiev
Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
49
Meet the Competitors MEI RUI USA • AGE 32 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Stony Brook University Yale School of Music COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2012: San Antonio International Piano Competition, Best performance of a Classical Work 2009: Stony Brook Concerto Competition 2009, Winner 2003: William Waite Concerto Competition 2003, Winner 2000: Manhattan School of Music Concerto Competition, Winner 2000: Chopin Kosciuszko Foundation Competition, Third Prize
Pianist Mei Rui’s playing has been praised as “riveting,” full of “dramatic tension and lucidity” by the Boston Globe. Dr. Rui graduated from Yale, and holds
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Fantasy and Fugue in A minor, BWV 904
Liszt
Années de pèlerinage Deuxième année: Italie
degrees in molecular biophysics and
Tarantella
biochemistry and music. While pursuing her D.M.A., she taught as Visiting Professor of Organic and General Chemistry at the City University of New York. In September 2013, Dr. Rui played to a sold-out audience with violinist Xiang Yu at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
SECOND ROUND Nathan
Three by Three (2009)
Ravel
Gaspard de la nuit: Trois poèmes d’après Aloysius Bertrand
Rachmaninoff
Prelude No. 12 in G-sharp minor, Op. 32
Scarbo Prelude No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 23
She has appeared at Yellowbarn, Taos, and Norfolk, and has collaborated with Itzhak Perlman, George Manahan, Shinik
2015 COMPETITORS
Hahm, Paul Katz, and Roger Tapping. At age 11, she made her orchestral debut soloing with the Beijing Radio Symphony and has since played with
THIRD ROUND Schumann
Fantasie in C major, Op. 17
Hersch
Tenebrae (2010)
SEMIFINAL ROUND
the Beijing Radio Symphony, Shanghai
Beethoven
Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Yale
FINAL ROUND
Philharmonic. Recently she recorded Eric Nathan’s solo works to be released by
Rachmaninoff
Albany Records in 2015.
50 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106, Hammerklavier
Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
JUN SUN CHINA • AGE 26 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Manhattan School of Music The Juilliard School COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2014: Geneva International Piano Competition, Second Round Stage Prize 2013: Young Concert Artists International Audition Competition, Second Prize 2012: William Kapell International Piano Competition, Special Prize 2012: Crescendo International Music Competition, First Prize 2010: China International Piano Competition, Sixth Prize
Pianist Jun Sun is a prizewinner of many international and national piano competitions including the Shanghai Conservatory Mozart Concerto Competition, the China International, the Crescendo International, the Hilton Head, and the William Kapell International piano competitions. Mr. Sun recently took second prize at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions.
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
SECOND ROUND Mozart
Rondo No. 1 in D major, K. 485
Chopin
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
THIRD ROUND Liszt
Müllerlieder von Franz Schubert, S. 565 2. Der Müller und der Bach
In 2013, Mr. Sun performed Brahms’s
12 Lieder von Franz Schubert, S. 558
first piano concerto under the baton of
8. Gretchen am Spinnrade
Leon Fleisher, and has performed Mozart K. 503 with Fou T’song.
Partita No. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825
Chopin
4. Erlkönig Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 63, No. 3 Mazurka in C major, Op. 67, No. 3 Mazurka in A minor, Op. 67, No. 4 Piano Sonata, Sz. 80, BB 88 (1926)
SEMIFINAL ROUND Haydn
Sonata in C minor, Hob. XVI:20
Prokofiev
Sonata No. 8 in B-flat major, Op. 84
FINAL ROUND Brahms
2015 COMPETITORS
Bartók
Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
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Meet the Competitors DMITRY TYURIN RUSSIA • AGE 19 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
M. Balakirev Music College Cleveland Institute of Music COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2009: International Competition for Young Pianists named after V. Yu. Villuan (Russia), Grand Prix 2008: International Russian Rotary Children’s Music Competition, Third Prize 2005: International Competition for Young Pianists after A. Artobolevskaya (Russia), Third Prize 2004: International T. Nikolayeva Competition for Young Pianists (Russia), Third Prize 2004: Nutcracker International Television Contest for Young Musicians (Moscow), Diploma Winner 2003: International Competition for Young Pianists named after V. Yu. Villuan, First Prize
FIRST ROUND Russian pianist Dmitry Tyurin began playing piano at the age of 5. He has attended several prestigious schools in Russia including the Villuan Music School in Nizhny, and the Music College of Balakirev. In 2012 he immigrated to the United States. Mr. Tyurin took the Grand-Prix at the V. Villuan competition in 2009, and has won awards at the “Nutcracker,” Nikolaeva, Artobolevskaya, and “Rotary” competitions.
J.S. Bach
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080, Contrapuncti IV and XII Études, Book I (1985), No. 4, Fanfares
Ligeti
Études, Book II (1988-94), No. 13, L’escalier du diable
SECOND ROUND Tchaikovsky/
The Nutcracker (Suite), Op. 71a, March, Dance of the Sugarplum
Pletnev
Fairy, Russian Dance (Trepak)
Rachmaninoff
Études-tableaux No. 3 in F-sharp minor, Op. 39
Schumann
Toccata in C major, Op. 7
THIRD ROUND J.S. Bach
Prelude and Fugue in G minor from
Ligeti
Études, Book II (1988-94)
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 885 No. 7, Galamb Borong
2015 COMPETITORS
Études, Book I (1985) No. 6, Automne à Varsovie Tchaikovsky/ Pletnev Liszt
The Nutcracker (Suite), Op. 71a Pas de deux Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514, Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke
SEMIFINAL ROUND Beethoven
Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2
Schumann
Kinderszenen, Op. 15
Ligeti
Études, Book I (1985) No. 1, Désordre
FINAL ROUND Prokofiev
52 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16
RUI URAYAMA JAPAN • AGE 26 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
The Boston Conservatory Kyoto City University of Arts COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
r
Rui Urayama was born in 1988 and began her piano studies at the age of 4. Her gifts were recognized at an early age, winning the Silver Medal in the Chopin Competition at the age of 12. Her orchestral performances include
2014: Maiji Yasuda Quality of Life Cultural Foundation Grant (Tokyo) 2014: St. Botolph Club Emerging Artist Awards (USA) 2013: PTNA Piano Competition (Japan), Grand Prix Winner (Yomiuri Newspaper Company Award, Tokyo City Philharmonic Award, and Minister of Arts and Culture Award) 2012: International Chopin Piano Competition (USA), Second Prize 2011: The Boston Conservatory Concerto Competition, Finalist
FIRST ROUND
the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra,
J.S. Bach
Perugia Music Festival Orchestra, Lub-
SECOND ROUND
lin Philharmonic Orchestra, and Tokyo New City Orchestra. She is an active chamber musician Trio.
throughout
They Boston,
have New
performed England,
Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826
Scriabin
Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp major, Op. 30
Albéniz
Iberia, Book I El Corpus en Sevilla
and performs widely with the JEMUR Piano
2010: Kyoto Musical Association Award 2010: Kyoto City University of Arts Concerto Competition, First Prize 2010: Kyoto City University of Arts Recital Competition, First Prize 2006: PTNA Piano Competition, Finalist (Top Grade Category) 2004: “Mainichi Newspaper Company” Piano Competition (Japan), Finalist 2003: National Chopin Competition (Japan), Silver Medal
THIRD ROUND Bartók
Piano Sonata, Sz. 80, BB 88 (1926)
Tchaikovsky Piano Trio with the Boston
Debussy
Images, Book II
Conservatory Dance Theatre, specially choreographed by Boston Ballet’s Dan-
SEMIFINAL ROUND
iel Pelzig, received great praise in the
Beethoven
Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2, No. 3
Boston Globe.
Albéniz
Iberia, Book III El Albaicín
She is currently pursuing her Artist
Triana
Diploma at the Boston Conservatory as the first pianist in three years to be accepted into this prestigious program.
FINAL ROUND Prokofiev
2015 COMPETITORS
and Europe. Their performance of the
Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
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Meet the Competitors ALICE CHENYANG XU CHINA • AGE 27 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
The New England Conservatory Roosevelt University The Curtis Institute of Music COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2004: Southern Missouri International Piano Competition, Second Prize 2002: Seiler International Piano Competition (Germany), Third Prize
Chinese pianist Alice Chenyang Xu has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in the US, Canada, Germany, and throughout China. Ms. Xu has taken prizes at the Southern Missouri International and SEILER International piano competitions. She has collaborated with Chicago Chamber Musicians, and her concert performances have been broadcasted through WFMT. Most recently, she has appeared at the Chicago Auditorium Theatre, Orchestra Hall at Chicago Symphony Center, Preston Bradley Hall at Chicago Cultural Center, and Jordan Hall in Boston.
FIRST ROUND J.S. Bach
Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in C-sharp minor from
Chopin
Ballade No. 2 in F major, Op. 38
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 849
SECOND ROUND Scarlatti
Sonata in D minor, K. 213
Ravel
La valse (1919–20)
THIRD ROUND Hersch
Tenebrae (2010)
Schumann
Variations on the name “Abegg,” Op. 1
Falla
Fantasía baética (1919)
SEMIFINAL ROUND
2015 COMPETITORS
Haydn
Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI:32
Schumann
Kreisleriana, Op. 16
FINAL ROUND Prokofiev
54 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
ARTEM YASYNSKYY UKRAINE • AGE 26 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
University of Arts Bremen Donetsk State Prokofiev Musical Academy COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2014: Gina Bachauer International Artist Competition, Third Prize 2013: Sendai International Music Competition, Third Prize and Audience Prize 2013: German Piano Competition of Polish Music, Hofmann prize 2011: Gian Battista Viotti International Music Competition (Italy), Third Prize 2007, 2001: International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz (Ukraine), Sixth and Third Prizes
Ukrainian pianist Artem Yasynskyy has appeared on many international stages. He has won prizes at major international piano competitions such as the Gina Bachauer Piano Artist Competition, the
FIRST ROUND Scarlatti
Sonata in G minor, K. 426
Debussy
Étude No. 11, “Pour les arpèges composés” (1915)
Hofmann
Charakterskizzen, Op. 40 Kaleidoskop
Sendai and Gian Battista Viotti Music competitions, as well as the Horowitz and First German competitions. Mr. Yasynskyy has appeared at festivals such as the Bremer Musikfest, the Maggio Piano Festival Vercelli, the Summer Night Music Festival of Kiev, the Festival “Days of Slavic Culture” in Rome and the Polish Music Festival in Hamburg.
SECOND ROUND Chopin
Prelude No. 8 in F-sharp minor, Op. 28
Szymanowski
Variations in B-flat minor, Op. 3 (1901–03)
THIRD ROUND J.S. Bach
Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 829
Brahms
Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Book I, Op. 35
Bizet/
Variations on a Theme from Carmen
Horowitz
Haydn
Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:50
Prokofiev
Sonata No. 8 in B-flat major, Op. 84 (1944)
FINAL ROUND Tchaikovsky
Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
2015 COMPETITORS
SEMIFINAL ROUND
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Next Year A PEEK AT WHAT’S IN STORE!
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID RAFIE
NEXT YEAR TEASER
We hope you’ve been inspired by all the exciting developments at the Cincinnati World Piano Competition this year, because we’ve got even more in store for next year. We made so much progress reaching new audiences this year and have learned so much from audience feedback that we’re confident the best is yet to come. Next year marks the return of the Young Artist Competition, which will feature young artists ages 7 to 22 in three divisions. These up-and-coming young stars will thrill us with their gifted performances while they compete for prizes and the chance to perform with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Because audience inspiration and innovation are crucial to us, you can expect further developments in our educational programming, senior outreach, and future programming for young professionals. Stay tuned to our web page (visit us), Facebook (like us), Twitter (follow us), and blog for more details.
56 2015 CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION
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Cincinnati World Piano Competition Music Hall 1241 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 744-3501
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