The World Piano Competition 2014

T H E W O R L D ’ S B E S T C O M E T O C I N C I N N AT I

OFFICIAL 2014 COMPETITION PROGRAM

Nancianne Parrella, resident since 2010

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

16-18 2014 DINNER CONCERT SERIES

LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP 4-8 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 10 VOLUNTEERS 12 BACH/BEETHOVEN/BRAHMS 14 2014 DONORS 19-20

22 COMPETITION SCHEDULE

TO COMPETE OR NOT TO COMPETE? 21

With so many ways to grab 15 minutes of fame, are competitions still relevant?

PRESTO CHANGO! 23

Get ready for some musical surprises in this year’s competition.

A LETTER FROM AWADAGIN 26 2014 JURY 28-32 BEING JUDGMENTAL 34

A Q&A with 2014 judges Frederic Chiu and Ursula Oppens.

24 CAREER LAUNCH

THE PROCESS 35

From applicant to medalist and everything in between.

MEET THE CONDUCTOR 36 CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 38 MEET THE COMPETITORS 40-51 STAR TECHS 52

2005 Silver Medalist Spencer Myer gives you an inside look into how he prepared for competitions and how these experiences helped launch his career.

Keeping competition pianos in top shape takes another kind of keyboard artist.

A LOOK INTO NEXT YEAR 56 Cover photo by David Rafie - www.davidrafiephotography.com - 513.241.1919

Performed in two warm and intimate settings: Sunday afternoons at FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH in Avondale Sharon Robinson and Jaime Laredo, Artistic Directors HOCHMAN

2014-2015 SEASON 36 Years of Music Making Among Friends OCTOBER 19 & 20, 2014 Grand Opening: The Variation Trio & Benjamin Hochman

LEES

FEBRUARY 1 & 2, 2015 Inspired by Friendship and Nature Simon Crawford-Phillips, piano William Preucil, violin Benny Kim, violin Philip Dukes, viola Eric Kim, cello

The Variation Trio Jennifer Koh, violin Hsin-Yun Huang, viola Wilhelmina Smith, cello Benjamin Hochman, piano

Performing Brahms Piano Quartet in A Major and Beethoven & Penderecki String Trios HADELICH

Monday evenings at CONGREGATION BETH ADAM in Loveland

Performing Elgar Piano Quintet, Brahms Piano Trio in C Major & Mozart Duos in G Major MARCH 1 & 2, 2015 The Legendary Leon Fleisher Returns

NOVEMBER 2 & 3, 2014 Eclectic Previn - Nostalgic Dvorák Dynamic Schumann V

KAVAFIAN

Leon Fleisher, piano Jaime Laredo, violin Ida Kavafian, violin/viola Sharon Robinson, cello Dwight Parry, oboe

The Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio Joseph Kalichstein, piano Jaime Laredo, violin Sharon Robinson, cello Timothy Lees, violin Christian Colberg, viola

Performing Korngold Suite for Two Violins, Cello & Piano Left Hand, Mozart Oboe Quartet and Dohnanyi Serenade for String Trio

Performing Piano Trios by Previn & Dvorák and Schumann Piano Quintet v

SÁINZ VILLEGAS

FLEISHER

NOVEMBER 30, 2014 Strings of Passion Augustin Hadelich, violin Emilie-Anne Gendron, violin Christian Colberg, viola Ilya Finkelshteyn, cello Pablo Sáinz Villegas, guitar

Performing Ravel String Quartet, Piazzola Histoire du Tango, as well as works by Rodrigo, Ysaÿe, Takemitsu & Dyens

MAY 17 & 18, 2015 Going for Baroque

Featuring Michael Chertock, harpsichord Randolph Bowman, flute Timothy Lees, violin Christian Colberg, viola Performing Bach Trio Sonata from A Musical Offering, Telemann Concerto for Viola and Bach Orchestral Suite for Flute & Strings

Subscribe and as a thank you, receive a complimentary ticket to our Subscriber Bonus Concert!

APRIL 19, 2015 Bella!

Violinist Bella Hristova will perform a special program featuring the works of Beethoven, Bach, Ysaÿe & Joan Tower

HRISTOVA ROBINSON & LAREDO

Call 513.381.6868 or visit www.lintonmusic.org

The Linton Experience—Get close to the music

Dear Friends, Welcome back to Corbett Auditorium at the University of Cincinnati C ollege-Conservatory of Music for the 2014 World Piano Competition.

2014 marks our 58th season and our second year back at CCM with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Last year was the Competition’s inaugural year partnering with CCM and the CSO. We saw record attendance, and sold out the final concert for the first time in our history. Demand was so great that we even added a webcast to cover the finals; it was viewed by hundreds of people in countries all over the world.

As you know, the World Piano Competition lives its mission to promote and celebrate the art of classical piano music. This year, we’ve continued to expand our connections with the Greater Cincinnati community by taking our Bach/Beethoven/Brahms educational outreach program to schools and community centers. We presented eight recitals for senior citizens at six different retirement communities and reached more than 600 people with the inspiration of classical piano music. We continue to look for opportunities to introduce and foster new audiences the art for which we know and love.

Saying “Thank You” is one of my favorite things to do. We are fortunate to have more people to thank than room allows. Trish and Rick Bryan, Sue and Bill Friedlander, Anne and George Musekamp and Vicky and Rick Reynolds are once again making it possible for our Competition finalists to perform with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Thanks to Dee and Tom Stegman, we will have the pleasure of reliving the 2014 finals on WCET-TV. Thanks go out to all of the host families and volunteers that help us throughout the year. Dale Allen, Mary Jo Barnett, Suzanne Costandi, Rhonda Dickerscheid, Mary Ann Jordan, Heather Sherwood, and so many others have dedicated countless hours to the World Piano Competition.

We would be lost without them, but don’t worry, we still have plenty of room for new volunteers!

We will continue growing and changing next year. Look for a new Young Artist Competition, expanded educational outreach programs, more recitals at senior centers, and a host of other community outreach programs.

Thanks so much for joining us this year.

Very truly yours,

Mark W. Ernster Executive Director, The World Piano Competition

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

Photo by David Rafie

From the left: Awadagin Pratt, Artistic Director, World Piano Competition Mark W. Ernster, Executive Director, World Piano Competition Trey Devey, President, Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra Peter Landgren, Dean, Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

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Dear Friends, Following the tremendous success of last summer’s revitalized World Piano Competition, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is again proud to partner with both the Competition and the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music to help make the Queen City truly a destination for classical pianists and fans from around the world. Our ongoing partnership fits perfectly with the Orchestra’s strategic vision, which includes raising our region’s global profile as Cincinnati’s ambassador and enhancing the quality of life through great musical performances as Cincinnati’s own.

This important collaboration would not be possible without the support of Trish and Rick Bryan, Sue and Bill Friedlander, Anne and George Musekamp, Vicky and Rick Reynolds, as well as Dee and Tom Stegman. We’re grateful for all of their steadfast commitment.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank again CCM Dean and CSO Board member Peter Landgren for being a truly extraordinary partner in this effort, and to Mark Ernster, whose passion in leading the World Piano Competition has infused boundless energy, determination and a commitment to excellence that are all truly elevating the Competition to new heights.

Best of luck to all of the competitors, and to the World Piano Competition spectators, enjoy the remarkable music-making!

Sincerely,

Trey Devey President, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

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Dear Friends, Welcome to the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for the 2014 World Piano Competition. This is the second year of CCM’s still fairly new collaborative partnership with the Competition and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The success of our first sellout year will certainly create even more excitement within the community and region, as it already has with our Competition applicants. These artists have come to Cincinnati representing seven different countries in order to compete against each other and perform for you!

Cincinnati arts organizations have a long history of collaboration, yet I believe the WPC/CSO/CCM partnership has achieved an entirely new level of mutually beneficial, mission-driven cooperation. What we have accomplished here will define how the arts in the Greater Cincinnati region can and will excel in the future. This synergy would not be possible without the vision and trust I share with CSO President Trey Devey, World Piano Competition Executive Director Mark Ernster and the newly appointed chair of the WPC board, Jack Rouse.

Our goal is to bring the world’s most sought-after piano teachers and artists together with up-and-coming international performers, making Cincinnati and CCM Village a hub of world-class piano activities each and every summer. Good ideas come and go… great ideas are here to stay because they make a lasting impact on our lives. Thank you for being a part of this impactful week of performances. Your role is as integral to the success of this partnership as that of the performers and the great music they so masterfully interpret.

Sincerely,

Peter Landgren, Dean Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

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Dear Friends, On behalf of the World Piano Competition board, staff, volunteers, and supporters, I would like to welcome you to the 2014 Competition. It is always gratifying to see such hard work culminate in such a fantastic event.

This is my first Competition as Board Chair, and I’m honored and excited to play a role in an organization with such a long and lustrous history. George Musekamp, who served in this capacity so tirelessly for so long, has left large shoes to fill. I’m reminded of that every day.

2014 sees the World Piano Competition continuing to build on the successes of last year when, among other things, we broke all attendance records and embarked on innovative partnerships with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. We continue to work with smart people to help us on our journey of reinvention and reimagining. We are implementing our aggressive strategic plan, making new friends and exploring new opportunities. The future is exciting.

Though we have a lot to learn as we move forward, there are some fundamentals we already know. We know the arts play an important role in creating a rich and diverse community. We know that early education in the arts prepares not only future artists, but in a larger sense prepares well-rounded future citizens. We know that at a young age, piano is the most studied musical instrument and that, thanks to early experiences with the piano, we continue to relish the joy of music as we age and mature. And we know our Competition brings attention to our city and pleasure to our patrons. It is for these reasons that we all support the arts in general and the World Piano Competition in particular.

In the months and years ahead we need your support, your ideas, and your continued participation in the programs that we produce. We know we can count on you.

As always, we thank you.

Jack Rouse Chairman, World Piano Competition Board of Directors

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mary Jo Barnett Volunteers

Andrew Bowen

Trish Bryan

Jerome H. Eichert

Mark W. Ernster Executive Director

Jackie Lett-Brown

Brent Ludwick

Pamela E. McDonald

Jennifer McFarland

George H. Musekamp, III

Christine E. Neyer

Susan W. Plageman Development

Kirk Polking Secretary

Laure Quinlivan

Ernest L. Robinson

Mazal Rosenblatt

Jack Rouse Chairman

Sam Ross Branding

Gary Smith Treasurer

Laura Bock Assistant to the Executive Director

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Dear Friends, For our entire history, volunteers have played an invaluable role to ensure flawless success of the World Piano Competition. As we enter our second year of partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, I’m happy to say that we have more volunteers than ever, and the door is wide open for more!

One of the key volunteer functions is serving as hosts for Artist Division Competitors. These volunteers open their homes – and their hearts – to virtual strangers from around the world.

They provide room, board, and practice opportunities, and serve as tour guides and interpreters, helping competitors feel welcome in Cincinnati (and the United States!). Many host families have been serving in this capacity for years, some for decades. They will tell you it is a most remarkable experience – the classic case of getting more than you give.

A big special thank you goes to Mary Ann Jordan, one of our long time volunteers, who contributes countless hours to link competitors and host families. This is a huge job, and Mary Ann tackles it with grace and love.

Last year, we began a new phase in volunteer coordination, using www.myvolunteerpage.com, an online system that affords everyone the chance to learn about volunteer activities and sign up to participate as they like. Many thanks to Rhonda Dickerscheid and Dale Allen for setting up the system and helping us learn how to use it effectively. We now have over 100 volunteers who have contributed 6,000 hours of their time in service to the World Piano Competition.

The World Piano Competition is still looking for more volunteers! You can sign up by visiting our website, www.cincinnatiwpc.org, and clicking on the volunteer button to learn more. We would love to have you, and I promise it will be an experience you will always remember and treasure.

GET INVOLVED! www.cincinnatiwpc.org Gratefully,

Mary Jo Barnett Member, Board of Directors Volunteer Coordinator

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

Images from the 2014 volunteer thank you party

Christine Adams Vina Bajaj Bobby Bao Kevin Bao Mary Jo Barnett Linda Boehmer Andrew Bowen Rita Broun Jackie Brown Trish Bryan Barb Carrelli Dottie Caster Michael Chertock Fred Costa Suzanne Costandi Jodelle Crosset Janet Cummings Jan Denton Beth Dieter Bobbie Dooley Alla Dorn Connie Dreyfoos

Jerome Eichert Mary Elsen Mark Ernster Judy Evans Fouad Ezra Mary Ezra Jane Fangman Carol Fischer Terry Foreman Jackie Francis Allene Geary Rose Marie Gigliotti Ethel Gilbert Laura Goodell Nancy Herbert Barbara Hester Linda Hill Ruth Holtel Steve Jones Mary Ann Jordan Alan Jozwiak Bea Katz

Linda Kinsler Anne Kron Carol Kruse Ellen Landers Annette Lebowski Carol Leslie Joyce Levine Jeanne Long Judy Lucas Brent Ludwick Darryl Marsh Vivian McCrary Pamela McDonald Marilyn McQueen Sally Moore Jen Moormeier Angela Murrer George Musekamp Christine Neyer Hai Nguyen Mary Lou Osterfeld Sue Petrus

Janet Pfaff Irmela Pogue Kirk Polking Laure Quinlivan Rochelle Render Sheila Richey Mary Robbe Ernest Robinson Mary Ann Robinson Linda Rogowski Drue Rolfes Chuck Rosenblatt Mazal Rosenblatt Sam Ross Jack Rouse Carolyn Russo Elaine Samuels Yvonne Schrotel Jolene Schwab Phil Seibert William Selnick Nora Sewell Joe Shields Emily Smith Gary Smith Teresa Smith Marian Stapleton Jan Struckman Kitty Tallarico Nancy Tanner Elizabeth Tinklenberg Ilse van der Bent Nancy Virgulak Lauren Wallace Tan Wei

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BACH/BEETHOVEN/BRAHMS and beyond...

Photography by David Rafie

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

Broadening our outreach, one note at a time You know us for our annual competition, now in its 58th season and growing each year, but do you know what occupies our time the other 51 weeks of the year?

Children and their parents have an opportunity to interact with Misha Namirovsky, 2013 WPC Bronze Medalist, at a BBB event.

different retirement communities for the enjoyment and inspiration of the residents.

We’d love to fill you in!

The World Piano Competition is not now and will The World Piano Competition is reserving its place in

never be a one-off event for a few days a year.

the Cincinnati arts and culture scene by presenting the

Education and inspiration are extremely important to

best up-and-coming pianists. In our 2014 season,

us, and offering more performance opportunities is

we’ve worked tirelessly to harness the immense talents

key to our mission of promoting and celebrating the

of these young artists and offer performances to the

art of classical piano music. We are here because

very communities where we work, live, raise our

of you and we are here for you. Thanks so much for

children, and care for our elders. We are proud to

your support.

call Cincinnati home and honored to be able to serve our neighbors by presenting educational outreach programs to both elementary school children and, new this season, retirement communities.

The Bach/Beethoven/Brahms program began as an educational outreach initiative to introduce inner city children to the progression of classical piano music through history, and instill in them the importance of art in any form. This year, for the very

Recital for seniors at Maple Knoll Village.

first time, we have been able to bring these recitals into the schools themselves, allowing students more

WITH HELP FROM:

time in the classroom and a listening environment that is both comfortable and familiar. Additionally, the WPC added a recital series specifically for senior citizens. During the 2013-14 season, eight solo classical piano recitals were presented at six 2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

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THE WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

DINNER CONCERT SERIES

Photography by David Rafie

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

NEW VENUES G R E AT F R I E N D S G R E AT E R A C C E S S I B I L I T Y

MAYERSON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

THE CINCINNATI WOMAN’S CLUB

QUEEN CITY CLUB

Throughout the year, the World Piano Competition

that classical piano doesn’t have to involve tuxedos

hosts a Dinner Concert Series featuring a variety of

and champagne. We held one of our typically “black

classical piano artists, including past award winners

tie” dinner concerts at the Mayerson Jewish Community

and the very best rising pianists. The series provides

Center and told folks to come “as they are.” The

performance opportunities for the artists and feeds

casual event was a success and proved that audiences

the appetite of classical piano lovers.

crave this type of experience, but don’t always want to be bothered with pomp and circumstance.

Traditionally, these concerts have been held at the Queen City Club, but this season, the WPC decided

In the coming seasons, we aim to continue to find

to try something a little different. We wondered what

ways to offer presentations that are more accessible to

it might be like to venture out and show our audience

a wider range of audiences while continuing to

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

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DINNER CONCERT SERIES CONTINUED

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bring you world-class artists. That being said, have no

As enthusiasts of this art form, we want to invite

fear, those of you who love the tradition; we remain

you all to join our family and celebrate the

committed to providing the elegant experiences that

community of piano lovers we are constantly striving

you’ve come to know and love as well.

to bring together.

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS The World Piano Competition gratefully thanks the following individuals and foundations for their generous support. This list recognizes commitments made from September 1, 2013 to May 12, 2014.

Gifts of $10,000 and more Artswave Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Bryan, III Charles H. Dater Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Eichert Mr. and Mrs. William A. Friedlander Mr. and Mrs. George H. Musekamp, III

Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund Vicky and Rick Reynolds Louise Taft Semple Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Tom Stegman Thomas J. Emery Memorial

Gifts of $5,000 - $9,999 The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Shannon and Lee Carter Family Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation William O. Purdy, Jr. Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Jack and Moe Rouse Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Western & Southern Financial Group

Gifts of $1,500 - $4,999 Barnett Family Philanthropic Fund Mrs. Arnold Barnett Mr. Devon Barrett and Mrs. Jennifer McFarland Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Betz Jennifer G. and Andrew C. Bowen Mr. & Mrs. James W. Brown Mrs. Bernadine E. Ernster Mr. Mark W. Ernster

Barry and Judy Evans Mrs. Pamela E. McDonald Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Neyer, Sr. Ms. Kirk Polking Mr. and Mrs. Sam Ross Mr. William D. Stenger Torey and Tom Torre

Gifts of $250 - $1,499 Mrs. Christine O. Adams Mr. Bobby Bao CincyInNYC Jodelle S. Crosset David and Carol Eichert Mr. and Mrs. Don Elliott Dee Gettler Bob Groszer and Donna Wirth Mr. David C. Herriman Marvin P. Kolodzik Charitable Fund

Carol Louise Kruse Mr. and Mrs. Brent W. Ludwick Lynne Meyers Gordon M.F.A. Sally and John Moore Carol and Drew Morgan Jim and Marty Neumeister Susan W. and Robert C. Plageman Riverpoint Capital Management Mr. Ernest L. Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rosenblatt

Mr. and Mrs. Donald W. Schwappach Jane and Mark Serrianne Ms. Dorothy L. Shuford Gary and Mary Lou Smith John Steele Christopher and Nancy Virgulak Stanley and Lucy Wang Ms. Nancy Youtsey

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7AP_2014 Program.indd (612 x 792) -- Spread 22 of 30 -- Fri May 30 11:34:20

Gifts Under $250 Anonymous Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation A Piano Student of 1955-1962 Judith Aronoff and Marshall D. Ruchman Nancy S. Kohnen Black Mr. James Blough Mrs. William A. Carelli Karen and Steve Carr Mr. and Mrs. Jack Carter Dorothy Caster Mrs. Jackson L. Clagett, III Ms. Tollie Chavis- In Honor of Maurice Oshry The Coley Family Kevin and Debbi Cranley Ms. Nancy Crump Bill Dean Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dearth Mrs. Jan Denton Ms. Rhonda Dickerscheid Mrs. Mel B. Dreyfoos Dr. and Mrs. Harry Fagedes Dr. and Mrs. Raul Florez

Ms. Martha M. Gibson Ms. Nancy H. Goldberg Mrs. Janet G. Todd Mr. and Mrs. James Grady Mr. Dan Griffith Nancy Grimes Carol and Ed Hake Mrs. George L. Heldman Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hirschhorn on behalf of Susan Plageman Matthew and Katie Lake Anne Ingalls Lawrence Ms. Susan Maruca Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Milburn Mr. and Mrs. David A. Millett Mr. and Mrs. Issam Minkarah Mrs. Angela Murrer Mr. and Mrs. Randolph G. Nunn, Jr. Santa Ono and Gwendolyn Yip Marilyn Z. Ott Ms. Mary Louise Palmer Mr. and Mrs. Ken P. Petrus Mark and Vicki Plano Clark

Residents of the Deupree House Nancy and Ed Rosenthal Scott and Carol Rush Melody Sawyer Richardson Trust Mr. Saul Schach Mrs. Frances F. Schloss Thomas and Jean Schmidt Vivian and Jim Schwab Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Sheldon Heather L. Sherwood Gerald and Ann Silvers Ms. Marian P. Stapleton Dr. and Mrs. Shiro Tanaka Carol and Tom Tierney, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Tinklenberg Dieter and Ilse van der Bent Ms. Geraldine Warner Frank and Janell Weinstock Mary E. West Mr. and Mrs. Robert Westerkamp Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Yurasek, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Zesch

Special thanks to the following donors for supporting the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s appearance at the 2014 World Piano Competition Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Bryan, III Susan and William Friedlander Mr. and Mrs. George H. Musekamp, III and Vicky and Rick Reynolds AND TO Tom and Dee Stegman for underwriting the rebroadcast of the 2014 World Piano Competition through WCET 20

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

TO COMPETE or NOT TO COMPETE? With so many ways to grab 15 minutes of fame, are competitions still relevant?

by Kathleen Doane This year, aspiring concert pianists have a choice of nearly 300 competitions throughout the world.

That shows that, despite the expense and complexity of drawing competitors from across the globe, competitions remain an important part of launching a professional career. “It’s a chance to be heard both by a jury of professionals and also by a rather large audience of educated music lovers, such as we find in Cincinnati,” says World Piano Competition judge, Ursula Oppens. “Of course, winning or doing well in a competition leads to other concerts and engagements.”

Sometimes a performer is too quirky for a consensus to form in the jury, and so that performer doesn’t win a top prize,” Eddins says, “but it’s that very individuality that we conductors are looking for.

WPC Artistic Director Awadagin Pratt knows about that firsthand. When Pratt took first prize in piano in the prestigious 1992 Naumburg Competition, it immediately led to 30 concerts the first season and many more followed, beginning what has been a 22 year career as a concert pianist.

Winners also take home cash. This year’s WPC gold medal winner will get $20,000 as well as a New

Photo by David Rafie

York recital; silver medalist, $15,000 and bronze, $10,000. And competitors get a front row seat to see and hear their potential competition in the future.

Still, you don’t always have to win to get attention, according to this year’s WPC conductor, William Eddins. “Sometimes a performer is too quirky for a consensus to form in the jury, and so that performer doesn’t win a top prize,” Eddins says, “but it’s that very individuality that we conductors are looking for.”

Like every other aspect of society, social media has had an impact on competitions. Some musicians have chosen to showcase their talents solely on YouTube, for instance, but only one or two have managed to parlay their cyber fame into something that resembles a career.

WPC judge Frederic Chiu believes that the festival aspect of a competition has multiple benefits for competitors, jury and audience alike: “The gathering of so much talent and eager, engaged listeners in one spot for a short period of time is very exciting and a catalyst for so much else that it is, overall, a positive experience for everyone.”

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2014 COMPETITION SCHEDULE Sunday, June 22 Opening Draw Party at the Probasco House Home of Sara and John Neyer 4:00 to 6:00 PM Monday and Tuesday, June 23 and 24 First Round Solo Recitals by 24 Competitors 9:00 – 11:10 AM 11:30 AM – 12:10 PM 1:30 – 3:40 PM 4:00 – 4:40 PM 7:00 – 9:10 PM Wednesday and Thursday, June 25 and 26 Semifinals Solo Recitals by 6 Competitors 7:00 – 10:20 PM

Friday, June 27 No Public Events - Rehearsal with the CSO Saturday, June 28 Finals 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 Sunday, June 29 Celebration Champagne Brunch The Phoenix 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Photo by David Rafie

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

GET READY FOR SOME MUSICAL SURPRISES IN THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION.

by Kathleen Doane In the first and semifinal rounds of the World Piano

This year, there’s a new wrinkle: All of the contestants

Competition, participants play a combination of

in the first round will have to play at least nine minutes

music they choose and pieces they must select from

of contemporary music during their 36-40 minute

WPC’s required list. Finalists choose a concerto from

recital, chosen from a list of specific works by five

a selection chosen by the WPC.

American composers. Participants received the list in January. “People who are competing may be playing

Required choices ensure that the judges will get

some pieces they have played for five to ten years,”

to hear how well contestants play a variety of

Pratt explains. “The contemporary component shows

works from the piano repertoire and evaluate each

how quickly and how well they learn a new piece.”

contestant’s unique interpretations. To that end, WPC Artistic Director Awadagin Pratt decided last year

If the idea of listening to 24 contestants play new

that it was time to rethink the rules.

music has you plotting an escape route from the auditorium, you may want to reconsider. Most of

People who are competing

these works have high entertainment potential.

may be playing some pieces they

Consider Superstar Etude #1 by Aaron Jay Kernis,

have played for five to ten years,”

keyboard à la Jerry Lee Lewis. There’s also a selection

Pratt explains. “The contemporary component shows how quickly and how well they learn a new piece.

in which the pianist is required to use his feet on the of 10 etudes by David Rakowski, including A Gliss is Just a Gliss, Fists of Fury, Touch Typing (played solely with the index fingers) and Menage a Droit, (for right hand only).

Pratt decided to pass on Rakowski’s etude titled

“We changed the repertoire requirements in terms

Snozzle “The piece calls for the pianist to play at

of certain kinds of composers, requiring a Baroque

opposite ends of the keyboard while playing the

piece in the first round and a complete classical

melody with the nose,” he says, smiling. “I thought if

sonata for the semi-finals,” Pratt says. “We also

someone has a cold and other pianists have to follow

extended the playing time for each round.”

that person, we’d have the health department down on us.”

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CAREER LAUNCH

Getting ready for a competition takes a lot of playing and planning.

by Kathleen Doane

Spencer Myer, the 2005 World Piano Competition silver medalist, understands the pressures of competition.

Before his last competitive appearance at the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition he participated in at least 20. “For six years, I did about three to four a year,� says the veteran competitorturned-pro who now averages 40 concerts and recitals a year. The trick is managing the inevitable stress that is a huge part of competing.

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

For Myer, that meant, not only knowing his repertoire

The last few days also involved work away from the

thoroughly but also plotting a quick recovery if

piano, studying the score and embedding enough

he made a mistake or suffered a memory lapse

visual cues in his brain that he could actually picture

onstage. It was a multi-step strategy that took lots of

the music in front of him if needed.

preparation during the two to three months leading up to a competition.

And then, day one of competition: “If I didn’t play until the afternoon or evening, I would always sleep

“In general, people choose pieces they know and

late,” he says. Eating usually was limited to a high

are very comfortable playing,” Myer says. “I made

protein/low carb meal of chicken and vegetables an

it a point to include at least one work I’d never

hour or two before performing and a power nap if

played before in every competition. I didn’t want to

time allowed. Playing his entire first round repertoire

be rehashing the same pieces every time, and I was

was a priority. “I always felt the best and most solid if

also trying to embark on a professional career so I

I had been playing right up until the moment I walked

wanted to expand my repertoire.”

onstage,” Myer says.

In theory, every participant prepares several recitals,

One thing Myer didn’t depend on was luck. “No, I

a different program for each round. “It is a much

didn’t have a lucky shirt or shoes I always wore,” he

greater amount of repertoire than you would ever

says, laughing. “There was nothing I ever carried in

play in such a short period of time if you were a

my pocket for luck, either.”

professional, but it certainly is good for learning to practice efficiently in order to get yourself to that top-

A year before Myer competed for the last time he was

notch level,” Myer says.

the gold medalist in the New Orleans International Piano Competition. So, what does it feel like to take

A month before a competition, Myer’s practice

the top prize?

sessions would intensify, making sure that every day he played at least half of the works that he

“I can tell you it feels like a million bucks,” Myer

had chosen for each round. “It gave me peace of

says, clearly delighted by the memory. “To be

mind, knowing that if I made it past the first round, I

acknowledged by a group of elders who have been

was just as prepared to go on.” This period of time

in the business and heard so many great people play

also included playing for others, drafting friends to

is just incredible.”

simulate the added pressure of an audience and jury.

Spencer Myer will play the Mozart Piano Concerto A few days before the competition Myer shifted his

No. 20 in D minor with the Dayton Philharmonic

focus to the first round, doing “major, major detail

October 17 & 18 and returns to the Queen City for a

work and playing as close to perfection as I could.”

November 5 dinner concert at the Mayerson Jewish

It was during this part of the process that he would

Community Center.

create different “mistake scenarios” and work out how to move on if they occurred. “It was a different way to exercise my brain, because I never wanted to play on autopilot,” he explains.

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HELLO FELLOW PIANO MUSIC LOVERS, Thanks for coming to the World Piano Competition’s 58th season. It is always our hope that each Competition will be the best yet and yield the most distinguished winner. The goal of the Competition is to find the best artist/pianist. At the end of a thrilling five days of performances, our jury selects promising young artists who may go on to enjoy dynamic careers – performing, recording, teaching, and generally serving as worthy ambassadors of the art form.

The decision of the jury to award the top three prizes is based upon the cumulative performances of each pianist, which is to say that the winner will have given the best performances throughout the Competition. The jury will try to assess who of these 24 candidates has the best chance at a career.

We have introduced a new dynamic element to the Competition this year.

Competitors, like concert artists, sometimes have pieces in their repertoire that they’ve played for years. Many competitions give artists a specific compulsory piece or two—often a choice of two pieces written specifically for the competition. This element of the competition provides the judges the opportunity to hear how well the artists are able to play something they’ve just learned. As most competitors have never heard these pieces, let alone played them, this requirement allows the artists to showcase flexibility and competency in their technique and musicianship.

In a variation of the idea of a compulsory piece, we decided to give competitors an option of works from several living (or recently dead!) composers who wrote interesting and challenging pieces. Most are etudes, the French word for study/ exercise, but some are not. What’s great for the listener is that these are all really fun pieces. They challenge the performer, but provide great entertainment for the listener/ observer in various and sometimes quite surprising ways. I think you will enjoy hearing these pieces, as well as the rest of the competitors’ programs, which promise to be full of great classical piano music.

Good luck to the competitors, and happy listening to us all!

Awadagin Pratt Artistic Director, World Piano Competition

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AWADAGIN PRATT Among his generation of concert artists, pianist Awadagin Pratt is acclaimed for his musical insight and intensely involving performances in recital and with symphony orchestras.

Born in Pittsburgh, Awadagin Pratt began studying piano at the age of six. Three years later, having moved to Normal, Illinois with his family, he also began studying violin. At the age of 16 he entered the University of Illinois where he studied piano, violin, and conducting. He subsequently enrolled at the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he became the first student in the school’s history to receive diplomas in three performance areas – piano, violin and conducting. In recognition of this achievement and for his work in the field of classical music, Mr. Pratt recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Johns Hopkins.

In 1992, Mr. Pratt won the Naumburg International Piano Competition and two years later was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant. Since then, he has played numerous recitals throughout the US including performances at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles and Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. His many orchestral performances include appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra and the Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Baltimore, St. Louis, National, Detroit and New Jersey symphonies among many others. Summer festival engagements include Ravinia, Blossom, Wolftrap, Caramoor and Aspen, the Hollywood Bowl and the Mostly Mozart Festival in Tokyo.

Recent and upcoming appearances include recital engagements at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and in Baltimore, La Jolla, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and at Duke University, as well as appearances with the orchestras of Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Seattle, Colorado, Portland (ME), Utah, Richmond, Grand Rapids, Winston-Salem, Allentown and Mobile. He played a recital in Carnegie Hall for the Naumburg Foundation in November 2010 and appeared at the 2012 Ravinia Festival in a duo recital with cellist Zuill Bailey.

As a conductor, Mr. Pratt participated in the American Symphony Orchestra League and Conductor’s Guild workshops and the National Conducting Institute, where he worked closely with Leonard Slatkin and conducted the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center. He has also conducted the Toledo, New Mexico, Vancouver (WA), Winston-Salem, Santa Fe and Prince George County symphonies, the Northwest

MEET THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Sinfonietta, the Concertante di Chicago and several orchestras in Japan.

A great favorite on college and university performing arts series and a strong advocate of music education, Awadagin Pratt participates in numerous residency and outreach activities wherever he appears; these activities may include master classes, children’s recitals, play/ talk demonstrations and question/answer sessions for students of all ages.

Internationally, Mr. Pratt has toured Japan four times and performed in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Israel, Columbia and South Africa.

Awadagin Pratt has been the subject of numerous articles in the national press, including Newsweek, People Magazine and New York Newsday. He was named one of the 50 Leaders of Tomorrow in Ebony Magazine’s special 50th anniversary issue and has been featured on National Public Radio’s Performance Today, St. Paul Sunday Morning and Weekend Edition.

On television, Mr. Pratt has performed on the Today Show, Good Morning America and Sesame Street, been profiled on CBS Sunday Morning and was one of the featured soloists on PBS’s “Live from the Kennedy Center - A Salute to Slava.” In November 2009, Mr. Pratt was one of four artists selected to perform at a White House classical music event that included student workshops hosted by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, and performing in concert for guests including President Obama. He has performed two other times at the White House, both at the invitation of President and Mrs. Clinton.

Mr. Pratt’s recordings for Angel/EMI include A Long Way From Normal, an all Beethoven Sonata CD, Live From South Africa, Transformations and an all Bach disc with the St. Lawrence String Quartet. His most recent recordings are the Brahms Sonatas for Cello and Piano with Zuill Bailey for Telarc and a recording of the music of Judith Lang Zaimont with the Harlem Quartet for Navona Records.

Mr. Pratt is currently Professor of Piano, Artist in Residence and Piano Department Chair at the CollegeConservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.

He was recently named the Artistic Director of the World Piano Competition in Cincinnati and is also the Artistic Director of the Art of the Piano Festival at CCM. Awadagin Pratt is a Yamaha artist. For more information, please visit www.awadagin.com 2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

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FREDERIC CHIU Frederic Chiu’s intriguing piano playing and teaching springs from a diverse set of experiences and interests: his Asian/ American/European background, his musical training, and an early and ongoing exploration of artificial intelligence and human psychology, especially the bodymind-heart connection.

With over 20 CDs on the market, his repertoire includes the complete work of Prokofiev as well as popular classics of Chopin, Liszt and others, and lesser known masterpieces of Mendelssohn and Rossini.

Many have been singled out, such as “Record of the Year” by Stereo Review, “Top 10 recordings” by The New Yorker, with raves from the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. His most recent recordings demonstrate his wide range: Beethoven/Liszt Symphony V, Carnival of the Animals with David Gonzalez, and Hymns and Dervishes, music by Gurdjieff/de Hartmann.

Frederic Chiu has toured in Europe and the US with the Orchestre de Bretagne and Stefan Sanderling. He has played with the Hartford Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Kansas City Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, BBC Concert Orchestra, Estonia National Symphony, China National Symphony, the FOSJE Orquesta in Ecuador, among others. In recital, he performs in the world’s most prestigious halls including the Berlin Philharmonic, Kioi and Suntory Halls in Tokyo, Lincoln Center in New York and Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Mr. Chiu’s musical partners include Joshua Bell, Pierre Amoyal, Elmar Oliveira, Gary Hoffman, David Krakauer, Matt Haimovitz and the St. Lawrence, Shanghai and Daedalus string quartets.

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Frederic Chiu recently premiered Edgar Meyer’s Concert Piece with Joshua Bell. He has worked with many composers, including George Crumb, Frederick Rzewsky, Bright Sheng, Gao Ping and David Benoit.

He was the recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Petscheck Award of the Juilliard School, and was a fellow of the American Pianist Association. He was also the “non-winner” of the 1993 Van Cliburn Competition, where his elimination from the finals elicited an uproar from the press.

Frederic Chiu is also committed to expanding the place of classical music.

He has created unusual collaborations with personalities outside the world of classical music, such as the Shakespearean actor Brian Bedford and psychologist/writer/ clown Howard Buten. He worked with the hip-hop artist Socalled in the Messiaen Remix project. He does extensive work with children through concert/lectures for schools, and has brought classical music to places where it is rarely heard. Currently, he is performing with David Gonzalez in the classics Peter and the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals, transcribed for solo piano and narrator. He is also running a multi-year project called Classical Smackdown, in which audiences vote for their favorite composers.

After 12 years spent in France, Frederic Chiu recently returned to the United States, where any free time he can find is divided between writing, painting and cooking.

He also co-directs artistic activities at Beechwood Arts, an arts immersion center in Connecticut.

MEET THE JURY

HEE SUNG JOO Korean pianist Hee Sung Joo first came to international attention by winning first prize in the prestigious Dudley International Piano Competition in England in 1995.

Chosen from among more than 60 pianists representing 22 countries, Ms. Joo subsequently gave her London debut in 1996 in the Royal Festival Hall. Of her performance, Geoffrey Crankshaw wrote in the British Quarterly, Musical Opinion: “A fresh talent of high promise came into view at The Purcell Room when Hee Sung Joo, the winner of the 1995 Dudley International Piano Competition, gave her Prize Winner’s recital. From the first bars of Bach, one recognized an artist of genuine stature, someone with something to say, and the ability to say it! A sure sense of style, backed with a truly formidable technique enabled this young artist to take us to the heart of each composer. This was no routine obeisance, but rather a sense of affirmations. I eagerly look forward to hearing this vital talent again.”

Following her success in England, where she concertized extensively, Ms. Joo went on to become a prizewinner in the U.S. at the Wideman Piano Competition, as well as earning distinctions in both the Cleveland International Piano Competition, and the William Kapell International Competition (Baltimore) where she won the Nancy W. Miller Memorial prize.

After Ms. Joo took first place in the 2002 New Orleans International Piano Competition, she made several appearances in the New Orleans area including a performance with Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Other U.S. appearances have included recitals in Jordan Hall (Boston), the Isabella Stuart Gardener Museum, French

Library, Wesleyan College Crowell Concert Hall, and Loyola University. She also had two feature recitals as the first prize winner of Simone Belsky Music Award Competition.

Recent engagements include recitals at Hoam Art Hall (Seoul Arts Center), Kumho Art Hall (Seoul), the Berlin Philharmonie (German) and performances with the Busan, Tong-Young, Berlin, and Beijing International Music Festivals. Ms. Joo has also performed with such orchestras as the Korean Symphony, Bucheon Philharmonic, Busan Philharmonic, Incheon Philharmonic and Daegu Philharmonic. She also recorded for the Korean Broadcasting System as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of Chopin’s birth.

A native of Seoul, Korea, Ms. Joo began her piano studies at the age of five. Winner of first prizes in the two major piano competitions in Korea, the Hankuk Journals and the Dong-A Music Competition, Ms. Joo made her Seoul debut in 1990. She went on to graduate from the New England Conservatory of Music, receiving a Masters Degree and Artist Diploma, working with Ms. Wha Kyung Byun. She also studied at the Hartt School of Music, working with Paul Rutman. She has taught at Walnut Hill Music School and New England Conservatory Preparatory School in Boston.

Ms. Joo recently spent a year as a visiting scholar at Indiana University, and is currently chair of the Piano Department, College of Music at Seoul National University in Korea.

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

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YOSHIKAZU NAGAI Called “Pianistic fire” by the Charleston Post, Japanese pianist Yoshikazu Nagai has impressed audiences and critics alike with his fresh interpretations and dramatic presentation style across North America and abroad. Equally at home as both soloist and chamber musician, Mr. Nagai has performed internationally in such venues as the National Recital Hall in Taiwan, Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall in Canada, Castello de Donna Fugato in Italy, the John F. Kennedy Center, Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Carnegie Recital Hall in New York and with orchestras across the country.

Mr. Nagai has also appeared at the Aspen Music Festival, the Sarasota Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Spoleto Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, the Philips Collection, and the International Piano Series in Charleston, South Carolina. In addition, his performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today”, RTHK4 (Hong Kong National Radio), RAI (Italian National TV), Interlochen Public Radio, KUHF-Houston, KBYU-Salt Lake City, WCLV-Cleveland, and worldwide over the internet.

Mr. Nagai has been a laureate of several international competitions, most recently capturing first prize at the 2002 Washington International Piano Competition and the Liszt Special Mention Prize in the 2002 IBLA Grand Prize International Piano Competition held in Italy. His other accolades include major prizewinner of the Concert Artists Guild International Music Competition (inaugural SVCCS performance prize), San Antonio International Piano Competition, Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, and the New Orleans 30

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

International Piano Competition.

Mr. Nagai is on the piano and chamber music faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as Professor of Piano and Chamber Music. He is also resident piano faculty at the Eastern Music Festival and School in Greensboro, North Carolina, and summer piano faculty at the Beijing International Music Festival and Academy, held at Central Conservatory in Beijing, China.

Mr. Nagai studied with John Perry at Rice University and received his Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he was awarded the Malvina Podis Prize in Piano upon graduation with Paul Schenly. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from the University of Puget Sound where he studied with Duane Hulbert.

Other teachers include Jerome Lowenthal, and Sergei Babyan.

MEET THE JURY

URSULA OPPENS Pianist Ursula Oppens, one of the very first artists to grasp the importance of programming traditional and contemporary works in equal measure, has won a singular place in the hearts of her public, critics, and colleagues alike. Her sterling musicianship, uncanny understanding of the composer’s artistic argument, and lifelong study of the keyboard’s resources, have placed her among the elect of performing musicians.

During the 2013/2014 season, she will perform Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated for the Fundação Osesp in São Paulo, return to Portugal in a recital honoring Elliot Carter at the Festival of the Azores, and perform in recital at Shenendoah University. She performs twice at the Library of Congress this season; first in a program with the JACK Quartet featuring quintets by Adés and Carter, and later with cellist Fred Sherry, and she will premiere a new work by Tania Léon with the Cassatt Quartet at Symphony Space.

In recent seasons, Ms. Oppens appeared at Carnegie Hall with the The Orchestra of the S.E.M. Ensemble in music of John Cage and performs Claude Baker’s Tableaux Funebres with the Pacifica Quartet for Chamber Music Society of Louisville, appeared at the Festival Slowind in Ljubljana, Slovenia, performing seminal works of Elliott Carter including Night Fantasies for solo piano (a work she premiered), Quintet for Piano and Winds, and Triple Duo with the Slowind Wind Quintet. She appeared at New York City’s Le Poisson Rouge, in a program of works by Charles Wuorinen and Conlon Nancarrow with JACK Quartet, and at Spivey Hall in Morrow, GA, with a program that featured Elliot Carter’s Two Thoughts about the Piano and works written for her such as John

Corigliano’s Winging It, and Frederick Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated. She also traveled to the Mills College Center for Contemporary Music and premiered a new concerto by Laura Kaminsky at Ithaca College and with the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic.

In 2008, she celebrated the 100th birthday of her friend and colleague, Elliott Carter, with critically acclaimed performances of his complete works for solo piano at the Boston Conservatory of Music, Symphony Space, the Ravinia Festival, Merkin Hall, the Tanglewood Festival and elsewhere.

Her recording of these works, Oppens Plays Carter, received a 2009 Grammy nomination for best solo classical album and was named on “Best of 2008” lists in The New York Times, the New Yorker magazine and Chicago Tribune.

Other recent highlights include the “Mozart Dances” with the Mark Morris Dance Group at Ravinia, at Toronto’s Luminato Festival, in New Zealand, and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

She performed Elliot Carter’s Dialogues and the premiere of Harold Meltzer’s Privacy with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for their renowned Green Umbrella Series, and later performed and recorded Privacy with the Boston Modern Orchestra led by Gil Rose and performed Carter’s Dialogues with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra led by Ingo Metzmacher.

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MEET THE JURY

ANDREY PISAREV In 1991, the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg awarded a Grand Prize for the first time since 1956. That prize went to a young Russian pianist named Andrey Pisarev. He had also won the Rachmaninoff Piano Competition (Moscow, 1983) and went on to take First Prize, along with special prizes for the best performances of a classical sonata and Mozart concerto, at the UNISA Transnet International Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa.

These competitions opened doors to prestigious concert halls for Mr. Pisarev and brought engagements from such orchestras as the Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, RAI Orchestra Milan, Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, and St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

Of Mr. Pisarev’s playing, Gunilla Boström wrote, “I believed that Andrey Pisarev was the best pianist I have ever heard, and this opinion remains after his recital. The expression ‘world pianist’ is not an exaggeration regarding him.”

(Helsingborgs Dagblad (Sweden), 2006) And in Westdeutsche Algemeine Zeitung (Germany) a review of his recital included “His performance cannot be forgotten. The pianist presented such impressive music that is rarely heard. The fact that his playing is distinguished for virtuosity - is of no doubt… the Sonata by Scarlatti sparkled like clear radiant water drops. The Suite Bergamasque

by Debussy sounded like a canvas painted with clear bright colours.”

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Mr. Pisarev began his musical education at the age of seven. In 1978 he moved to Moscow to study at the Music School and then at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. He graduated in 1987 and received his M.A. degree in 1989. He possesses wide repertoire and feels equally at home performing Bach, Mozart, Liszt, Chopin, Rachmaninov, Debussy, Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

Mr. Pisarev is a Professor at the Moscow Conservatory.

Co m m itm ent to Co m m u n ity 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 community.

We’re happy to help make Cincinnati a great place to live, work and play.

Cris Collinsworth Western & Southern Spokesperson

Spokesperson is a compensated endorser. Western & Southern Financial Group, Cincinnati, Ohio.

WS 40002 1402

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BEING JUDGMENTAL

by Kathleen Doane

This year’s World Piano Competition is a return engagement for judges Frederic Chiu and Ursula Oppens. Both have had distinguished performing and recording careers and have taught legions of talented young pianists.

And both know the pressures of competition firsthand. To hear so many gifted young pianists and then decide who will win is a daunting task.

What are some of the key elements you listen for when choosing the winners?

Is a performer’s nationality or heritage reflected in his or her playing?

Frederic Chiu: My first response is a gut feeling, as an open, generous and knowledgeable listener.

I’m looking for goose bumps, or curiosity, or even irritation! Only then, as a professional, do I use my experience and ability to analyze whether the impression is a conscious one [on the pianist’s part]—which means it is an artistic choice—or just a coincidence or a one-time occurrence, which is not really artistic in my opinion.

Ursula Oppens: We expect them all to be wonderful! We look for an understanding of style, for a variety of color and the performer’s ability to make the music speak to us.

FC: Despite the fluidity of today’s world, there are still some national and cultural difference that are distinct.

The Russian school of piano is still very recognizable, as well as a modern Chinese school, and even the established French school is still around. The Italians are very strong players, but that is a recent development. Americans are mavericks, in general.

And cultural differences do affect how a young musician works, which is important for one’s musical development.

Why is playing a work from memory important?

FC: For the musician, it can be freeing not to have to read a score, which means that, to some degree, you’ve integrated the music into yourself.

That can produce more personal interpretations. For the audience, there is a sense of confidence and engagement that develops when there is just the musician, the instrument and the sounds.

UO: Memorizing a work makes one know it extremely well, which is quite enlightening for the performer. You will notice that for this competition we have included a group of American etudes and quasi etudes that do not have to be memorized.

This is because some of these pieces may have been learned specifically for this competition and the harmonic language might be quite new to the contestants. We want them to be as adventurous and fearless as possible. I imagine that you will find that despite the fact that it is not required, many competitors will play by memory!

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UO: A performer can choose repertoire that reflects his or her heritage, or even choose to emulate a particular performer, but in fact, musicians are members of a world community, and there are innumerable influences on each person’s playing.

Is it necessary for a pianist to connect with the audience to give a spectacular performance in the World Piano Competition?

FC: It is absolutely necessary. If one is focused on the judges’ reactions and forgets about the audience, it will be obvious. Music is about connection, and the audience will be there much longer than the judges!

UO: It is not necessary for a pianist to speak with the audience, but in fact, a spectacular performance is exactly what does connect with the audience, one that excites them, moves them to tears, or otherwise makes them wake up and want to listen.

Kathleen Doane is a former Senior Editor of Cincinnati Magazine and Asst. Features Editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer. She is a freelance writer who specializes in the arts.

Photo by David Rafie

T H E

P R O C E S S

FROM APPLICANT, TO ACCEPTANCE TO ACHIEVEMENT This season, a prescreening jury consisting of Polina Bespalko, Gabriela Imreh Spalding, Dorothy Shuford, Lori Sims, and Frank Weinstock selected 24 competitors between the ages of 18 and 32, to compete in the First Round of the Artist Division Competition. Because we get so many questions about the process, we’ve decided to divulge how it works: The prescreening process is entirely anonymous; jurors do not see the applicant’s video submission or know the names of the applicants as they listen.

A non-voting member watches the videos to make absolutely sure that videos haven’t been edited, but otherwise, the jurors are only able to identify applicants by an assigned number.

Once each applicant has been reviewed, the voting process is shockingly simple: jurors give a “yes” or “no” vote. There is no discussion, nothing is measured, and no statistics are examined.

A candidate needs three votes to get in to the competition. Surprisingly, the jury selects the majority or competitors unanimously; any ties are broken by a re-vote among the tied individuals. While the same method of voting is used for the First and Semifinal Rounds, competitors are voted into the Finals by majority vote.

Artistic Director Awadagin Pratt’s experience as a judge led him to simplify this stage for us; he has found that complex processes are unnecessary and that the simplicity of the chosen method allows for the election of the best talent based on commonly accepted musical criteria. Once accepted, the competitors compete for one of three spots in the Finals and a performance with the Cincinnati

Symphony Orchestra. The Gold Medalist will take home a $20,000 cash prize and earn a debut recital in New York City, while the Silver and Bronze Medalists will win $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.

First Round performances are 36-40 minutes and, new this year, must include a minimum of nine minutes of contemporary compositions from the following list: Elliot Carter: Caténaires John Corigliano: Winging It

III. 6/7/2008 Aaron Jay Kernis: Superstar Étude #1 Conlon Nancarrow: ¿Tango?

Tobias Picker: Four Études for Ursula David Rakowski: Piano Études 11. Touch Typing 21. 12-Step Program 28. You’ve Got Scale 33. Sliding Scales 61. Ménage à Droit 14. Martler 25. Fists of Fury 30. A Gliss is Just a Gliss 40. Strident 68. Absofunkinlutely In the Semifinal Round, competitors are narrowed to six and must perform a 56-60 minute recital that includes a sonata by Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, or Schubert. From there, three competitors will advance to the finals where each will perform one concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from the approved World Piano Competition list.

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MEET THE CONDUCTOR

WILLIAM EDDINS William Eddins is the Music Director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and a frequent guest conductor of major orchestras throughout the world. He was Principal Guest Conductor of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (Ireland) from 2001 to 2006.

Engagements have included the New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Houston, as well as the Los Angeles and Buffalo Philharmonics.

Internationally, Mr. Eddins has conducted the Berlin Staatskapelle, Berlin Radio Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (Australia), Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, and the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra. He recently led the Natal Philharmonic on tour of South Africa with soprano Renee Fleming.

As Music Director, he led the Edmonton Symphony Orchestras in a 2012 Carnegie Hall concert as part of the Spring for Music Festival. Other recent highlights include conducting the RAI Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale on Italian television and leading Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess with Opera de Lyon. In 2015 he will conduct Porgy and Bess at the Spoleto Festival as well as Mozart’s Magic Flute with the Edmonton Opera.

Mr. Eddins is an accomplished pianist and chamber musician. He regularly playconducts from the piano in works by Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin and Ravel. He has 36

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released a recording on his own label that includes Beethoven’s Hammer-Klavier Sonata and William Albright’s The Nightmare Fantasy Rag. Mr. Eddins has performed at the Ravinia Festival with both the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. He has also conducted the orchestras of the Aspen Music Festival, the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

A native of Buffalo, NY, (born in December 1964) Mr. Eddins attended the Eastman School of Music, studying with David Effron and graduating at age eighteen, making him the youngest graduate in the history of the institution. Previous positions include Resident Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra.

C C M S TA F F S U P P O R T Office of the Dean

Facilities & Performance Services

Public Relations

Jane Whipple Assistant to the Dean

John McDonagh Director

Curt Whitacre Public Information Officer

Summer Programs

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Sara Danner Dukic Director

Rayburn Dobson, Jr. Senior Director, Performance Operations

Kiley Brodeur Marketing and Promotions Coordinator

Joan Van Brocklin Financial Administrator Sommer Schoch Administrative Assistant Zach Slack Social Media Tim Neumann Electronic Media Support

Piano Services

Recording Services Cris Davis Director

Eric Wolfley Director Rebekah Wortman Piano Technician Preparatory Department Amy Dennison Assistant Dean 2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

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A BRIEF HISTORY....

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 119-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.

A champion of new music, the Orchestra has given American premieres of works by such composers as Debussy, Ravel and Bartók and has commissioned works that have since become mainstays of the classical repertoire, including Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. The CSO was the first orchestra to be broadcast to a national radio audience (1921) and the third to record (1917). The orchestra continues to commission new works and to program an impressive array of music. Most recently, the CSO performed the world premieres of Nico Muhly’s Pleasure Ground and David Lang’s mountain as 38

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part of the groundbreaking collaboration with the MusicNOW Festival, Cincinnati’s premier new music festival.

The Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra is Cincinnati’s amabassador with over 10 million units sold, many of which have received Grammy awards and nominations. In January of 2010, the CSO launched its own record label, now known as Fanfare Cincinnati, which currently boasts four releases. In March of 2012, the CSO performed the world premiere of Philip Glass’ Cello Concerto No. 2, Naqoyqatsi, which was recorded and released in 2013 under the Orange Mountain label.

The CSO was the first American orchestra to make a world tour sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and continues to tour domestically and internationally, most recently to Europe in 2008 and to Japan in 2009, including two concerts at Tokyo’s Suntory Hall and the CSO’s first-ever nationally televised concert in Japan. The CSO has performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall 48 times since its debut there in 1917, most recently to rave reviews in May of this year.

The Orchestra also performs as the Cincinnati Pops under the direction of John Morris Russell, and the CSO is the official orchestra for the Cincinnati May Festival, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet and the World Piano Competition.

The CSO is Cincinnati’s own and committed to enhancing and expanding music education for the children of Greater Cincinnati and works to bring music education, in its many different forms, to as broad a public as possible. Education and outreach programs currently serve more than 75,000 individuals annually.

2014 CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LOUIS LANGRÉE, CSO Music Director

Paavo Järvi, Music Director Laureate Robert Treviño, Associate Conductor

Louise Dieterle Nippert & Louis Nippert Chair

David G. Hakes & Kevin D. Brady Chair

William White, Assistant Conductor FIRST VIOLINS

Paul Frankenfeld*

Amy Taylor†

Concertmaster Anna Sinton Taft Chair

Julian Wilkison** Marna Street

Leah Arsenault*†

Rebecca Barnes†§ Belinda Burge† Stephen Fryxell Gi Yeon Koh† Denisse Rodriguez-Rivera Steven Rosen Joanne Wojtowicz

Joan Voorhees

Timothy Lees

Rebecca Culnan

Associate Concertmaster Tom & Dee Stegman Chair

[Open]

First Assistant Concertmaster James M. Ewell Chair

Eric Bates

Acting First Assistant Concertmaster Serge Shababian Chair Kathryn Woolley Acting Second Assistant Concertmaster Nicholas Tsimaras– Peter G. Courlas Chair

Anna Reider

Dianne & J. David Rosenberg Chair

Sylvia Samis

Assistant Concertmaster Emeritus

Mauricio Aguiar§ Minyoung Baik James Braid Janet Carpenter† Michelle Edgar Dugan Rebecca Kruger Fryxell Gerald Itzkoff Lois Reid Johnson Sylvia Mitchell

Jo Ann & Paul Ward Chair

Luo-Jia Wu

SECOND VIOLINS Gabriel Pegis

Principal Al Levinson Chair

[Open]*

Harold B. & Betty Justice Chair

Scott Mozlin

Acting Associate Principal

Kun Dong Cheryl Benedict Drake Crittenden Ash§ Harold Byers

Ida Ringling North Chair

Chiun-Teng Cheng Chika Kinderman David Moore Hye-Sun Park Paul Patterson

Charles Gausmann Chair

Stacey Woolley

Brenda & Ralph Taylor Chair

VIOLAS

Christian Colberg

Principal Louise D. & Louis Nippert Chair

Grace M. Allen Chair

Principal Emeritus

CELLOS

Ilya Finkelshteyn

Principal Irene & John J. Emery Chair

Daniel Culnan*

Ona Hixson Dater Chair

Norman Johns**

Karl & Roberta Schlachter Family Chair

Christina Coletta§† Matthew Lad Susan Marshall-Petersen Laura Kimble McLellan Chair

Theodore Nelson Alan Rafferty

Ruth F. Rosevear Chair

Dana Rusinak Charles Snavely

Peter G. Courlas– Nicholas Tsimaras Chair

BASSES

Owen Lee

Principal Mary Alice Heekin Burke Chair

James Lambert* Matthew Zory, Jr.** 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

Jane & David Ellis Chair

PICCOLO OBOES

Dwight Parry

Principal Josephine I. & David J. Joseph, Jr. Chair

TRUMPETS [Open]

Principal Rawson Chair

Douglas Lindsay* Acting Principal

Steven Pride

Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Chair

Christopher Kiradjieff** Acting Associate Principal

Richard Johnson

TROMBONES

Lon Bussell*

Principal Dorothy & John Hermanies Chair

Donald & Margaret Robinson Chair

ENGLISH HORN

Christopher Philpotts

Principal Alberta & Dr. Maurice Marsh Chair

CLARINETS [Open]

Principal Emma Margaret & Irving D. Goldman Chair

Jonathan Gunn Acting Principal

Cristian Ganicenco

Richard Harris†

BASS TROMBONE Peter Norton

TUBA

Carson McTeer† Principal

TIMPANI

Patrick Schleker

Ixi Chen Benjamin Freimuth*†

Principal Matthew & Peg Woodside Chair

BASS CLARINET

PERCUSSION

Robert E. & Fay Boeh Chair

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 Duane Dugger Charles Bell

§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

Richard Jensen* David Fishlock

Principal Susan S. & William A. Friedlander Chair

Richard Jensen*†

KEYBOARDS

Michael Chertock

James P. Thornton Chair

ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL Walter Zeschin, Director Scott Mozlin, Assistant

LIBRARIANS Mary Judge

Principal Lois Klein Jolson Chair

Christina Eaton*

STAGE MANAGERS Joseph D. Hopper Ralph LaRocco, Jr. John D. Murphy

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

39

K AY O U N G A N

FENG BIAN

SOUTH KOREA

CHINA

Kayoung An debuted at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall in 2013. She has appeared with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra at Seoul Art Center in Korea, and the Prodigy Young Concerto Series with the Seoul Symphony Orchestra.

For winning the 26th Kumho Young Artist Auditions, Ms. An presented a recital at Kumho Art Center in June of 2013. Korean Magazine Music Today has said, “along with elegance, she has fire.”

Ms. An won the Top Prize in the Korea All-States National Competition at the age of 11. Since then, she has won the Top Prize and the Canadian Contemporary Music Award at the Windsor Kiwanis Festival Competition (2005), Best Concerto Award at the Chatham Kiwanis Music Competition (2004), The Cleveland Institute of Music’s Concerto Competition (2008), the Top Prize in the 15th Darius Milhaud Performance Prize Competition (2008), and First prize at the 1st New York International Artists Association Piano Competition (2013).

Ms. An completed her bachelor’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music and completed the Artist Diploma program at the Colburn Conservatory of Music. Ms. An is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the New England Conservatory.

Feng Bian was born in 1988, in Chengdu, China. He began piano lessons at the age of 6 and entered the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in 2001. He finished his bachelor’s degree and Artist Diploma at The Colburn School and is now a first-year student in the Master of Music degree program at Yale School of Music.

In addition to classical performances, Mr. Bian has performed with leading jazz musicians such as Ron McCurdy on the Lin Jinhui project in 2011. In 2012, he performed Mozart’s C minor piano concerto with the Colburn Orchestra and Culver City Symphony Orchestra. In 2013, he was invited to play with the award-winning Saguaro Trio.

Later that year, he was invited to give the opening recital for Cochem Internationaler Klaviersommer in Germany.

Mr. Bian has also participated in several music festivals, including Morningside Music Bridge, Sarasota Music Festival, and Holland Music Sessions. Mr. Bian has received numerous prizes and awards in his native China, as well as a 2004 Yamaha Scholarship. He won the First Prizes of the California Division of MTNA and Parness Young Artists Concerto Competitions, as well as an Encouragement Prize at the 2012 Sydney International Piano Competition.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

Handel: Chaconne in G major, HWV 435 Schumann: Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 Corigliano: Winging it (2008)

III. 6/7/08 Kernis: Superstar Etude No. 1 (1992)

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, BWV 849, Book I Franck: Prélude, choral et fugue Corigliano: Winging it (2008)

III. 6/7/08 Picker: Four Etudes for Ursula, Nos. 1 and 3 (1996)

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Beethoven: Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110 Rzewski: North American Ballads (4) (1978-9)

1. Dreadful Memories Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24

Beethoven: Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, Appassionata Brahms: Klavierstücke, Op. 118

1. Intermezzo in A minor

2. Intermezzo in A major

3. Ballade in G minor Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit: Trois poèmes d’après Aloysius Bertrand

FINAL

FINAL

Beethoven: Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58

Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

40

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

MEET THE COMPETITORS HANQING CHANG

MOYE CHEN

CHINA

CHINA

Hanqing Chang started playing the piano at the age of 4 and began her formal music education at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music at age 12.

She received a Master of Music from from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Music Arts at the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music.

At the age of 10, Ms. Chang started performing publicly and was invited to perform Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto with the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Of Ms. Chang’s performance, New Post Styles Weekly wrote, “Passionate melodies filled the concert hall whilst the whole audience was transfixed instantly. Leaping of octaves and sustaining harmony portrayed a ballet on stage until the last notes slipped through her fingertips. Ms. Chang conquered the audience with her extraordinary performance.”

Ms. Chang has won several piano competitions, including First Prizes at the College-Conservatory of Music Piano Concerto Competition, 3rd Wiesbaden International Piano Competition, 10th Xinhai Cup National Piano Competition, 3rd HGS National Piano Competition, and the 12th Hong Kong Piano Open Competition in Hong Kong, as well as Second Prize in the Asian Youth Music International Competition.

Moye Chen has performed extensively as a concert pianist in Asia and the United States. He has performed in renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Finney Chapel, Benaroya Concert Hall, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing Concert Hall, Shanghai Concert Hall, and the Shanghai Grand Theatre. Mr. Chen is a winner of many competitions, including Seattle, Heida Hermanns, and Buono and Bradshaw International Piano Competitions, Krannert Debut Artist Competition, and Palatino Piano and Composition Competition. In addition, he was a recipient of the June and Charles Ross Fellowship Award in 2012 and 2013.

A native of Beijing, Mr. Chen began his piano study at the age of 7, and in 1997, he moved to Shanghai and had the great honor of performing during the ceremony of Macao’s return to China in 1999, broadcast by CCTV and SHTV. He has performed as a soloist with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, Oberlin Orchestra and Asian Ensemble Orchestra. Mr. Chen earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and an Artist Diploma from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

Mr. Chen is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Illinois.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit: Trois poèmes d’après Aloysius Bertrand Ondine Rakowski: Piano Études

40. Strident (2002)

14. Martler (1997) Carter: Caténaires (2006) Scarlatti: Sonata in C major, K. 159

Sonata in D minor, K. 141

Sonata in E major, K. 380 Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514, Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke

Scarlatti: Sonata in G minor, K. 8

Sonata in G major, K. 146 Rachmaninoff: Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36 Corigliano: Winging it (2008)

III. 6/7/08 Rakowski: Piano Études

40. Strident (2002)

68. Absofunkinlutely (2005)

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Beethoven: Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10, No. 3 Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Scriabin: Poème No. 1 in F-sharp major, Op. 32 Mozart: Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330 Grieg: Lyric Pieces

Book III, No. 6, Op. 43, To Spring

Book V, No. 3, Op. 54, March of the Dwarf Liszt: Années de pèlerinage

Deuxième année: Italie Sonetto 104 del Petrarca Sonata in B minor, S. 178

FINAL

FINAL

Liszt: Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124

Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

41

SUNG-SOO CHO

BARON FENWICK

SOUTH KOREA

U N I T E D S TAT E S

Sung-Soo Cho began his studies at the age of 5. He attended the Yewon School, Seoul Arts High School, Seoul National University, and the Manhattan School of Music. He has had successes in such piano competitions as the International Piano Competition “Delia Steinberg” in Madrid, Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, Five Towns Music and Art Foundation Young Musician Competition in New York, Glasgow International Competition for Young Pianists, and the International Piano Academy Competition in Scotland. In Korea, he has received many prizes including the Grand Prize at Suri National Music Competition and Second Prize at the Joongang Music Competition.

Mr. Cho has presented recitals as part of the Yamaha Artist Services’ Rising Artist Series and the Kumho Young Artist Concert Series. He has appeared with the Prime Philharmonic Orchestra playing Prokofiev’s third piano concerto in Korea, the Festival Chamber Orchestra of Lublin Philharmonic playing Mozart’s ninth piano concerto in Poland, and the Ashdod Symphony Orchestra playing Beethoven’s first piano concerto. Recently, he presented his solo debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall for taking the top prize at the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition.

Baron Fenwick has performed throughout the United States as a featured soloist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, the South Carolina Philharmonic, and the Western Piedmont Youth Symphony. Mr. Fenwick is a second-year undergraduate student at Mannes College of the New School for Music and has previously studied at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Appalachian State University.

Mr. Fenwick received Honorable Mention in the 2013 Mannes Concerto Competition, and has won numerous state and national competitions.

He received First Prize in the 2011 Jacob Flier International Piano Competition in New Paltz, New York, Top Pianist at the 2011 BlountSlawson Concerto Competition in Montgomery, Alabama, and First Prize at the 2010 Lee University Piano Competition in Tennessee. Mr. Fenwick was also the recipient of UNCSA’s Leonard Bernstein Award of Excellence in 2009.

Currently, Mr. Cho is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Cleveland Institute of Music.

Mr. Fenwick is deeply interested in historical performance. At Mannes, he has been studying the fortepiano and historical performance practices. He has performed the music of Beethoven and Mozart on period instruments, and looks forward to performing the complete cycle of Beethoven cello sonatas in the fall of 2014, on fortepiano.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

J.S. Bach: Fantasy and Fugue in A minor, BWV 904 Carter: Caténaires (2006) Rakowski: Piano Études

21. 12-Step Program (1999)

30. A Gliss is Just a Gliss (2000) Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in B minor from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 869 Picker: Four Etudes for Ursula, Nos. 2 and 3 (1996) Carter: Caténaires (2006) Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Haydn: Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI:32 Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9 Liebermann: Nocturne No. 7, Op. 65 (1999) Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254, R. 90

Mozart: Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330 Schumann: Fantasie in C major, Op. 17 Prokofiev: Sonata No. 7 in B-flat major, Op. 83, Stalingrad

II. Andante caloroso

III. Precipitato

FINAL

FINAL

Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

42

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

MEET THE COMPETITORS MARIA FULLER

KARA HUBER

CANADA

U N I T E D S TAT E S

Pianist Maria Fuller grew up in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, and has played the piano since the age of 4.

She is currently obtaining her master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and in 2012, she completed her bachelor’s degree at McGill University.

Last summer, Maria received Second Place at the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association National Finals and also at the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals National Finals, and she won the Florence Bowes Piano Competition. In 2011 she was a semifinalist at the Fischoff National and Plowman Chamber Music Competitions with her piano trio, Geistrio.

Ms. Fuller is also a skilled trumpeter, having held the Provincial Brass title three times by the age of 15. Accepted as a double major at McGill University, Maria declined in the interest of focusing her attention on the piano.

As a pianist, Ms. Fuller has performed as guest soloist with the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra, and was selected to play with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. She has been heard on CBC Radio both with her family ensemble, “Fuller Brass” (a group of five siblings who all play both piano and trumpet), and as a classical pianist.

American pianist Kara Huber has been acclaimed for her “mature vision” by The Washington Post during a performance at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Classical Voice of North Carolina wrote that she plays “technically difficult solo passages with uncanny accuracy.”

Ms. Huber has made numerous solo appearances at the Kennedy Center, in the Eastern Illinois University Guest Artist Series, the Rising Stars Piano Series in Southampton, NY, and with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra. Ms. Huber has received many prizes and awards for her performances, including the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, the Stetcher and Horowitz Foundation’s New York Piano Competition, Piano Arts Solo and Concerto Competition, National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts, Oberlin International Piano Competition, Missouri Western Young Artist Piano Competition, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.

Ms. Huber began private lessons at the age of 5 and at 16, she was admitted to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Ms. Huber has received degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is currently earning an Artist Diploma degree at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

J.S. Bach: French Suite No. 6 in E major, BWV 817 Corigliano: Winging it (2008)

III. 6/7/08 Rakowski: Piano Études

61. Ménage à Droit (2004)

40. Strident (2002) Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi sonata

Gubaidulina: Chaconne (1962) J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in B minor from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier BWV 869, Book I Liszt: Années de pèlerinage

Deuxième année:

Italie Sonetto 104 del Petrarca

Italie Sonetto 123 del Petrarca Rakowski: Piano Études

25. Fists of Fury (1999)

30. A Gliss is Just a Gliss (2000)

68. Absofunkinlutely (2005)

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Beethoven: Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 Ravel: Miroirs

Une Barque sur l’ocean Rachmaninoff: Études-tableaux Nos. 2, 5, and 6, Op. 39 Scriabin: Étude No. 5, Op. 42 McIntyre: Butterflies & Bobcats (2004)

Beethoven: Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E major, Op. 62

Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 Tower: No Longer Very Clear

Holding a Daisy (1996)

Or Like a…an Engine (1994)

Vast Antique Cubes/Throbbing Still (2000)

FINAL

FINAL

Liszt: Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124

Brahms: Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

43

V L A D I M I R K H O M YA K O V

HYUN JUNG KIM

UKRAINE

SOUTH KOREA

Vladimir Khomyakov was born in Kirovograd (USSR) and began his studies at the age of 4. Mr. Khomyakov studied at the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory in St. Petersburg, and in 2011 received a post-graduate degree from the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory in Moscow. In 2012 he completed his Artist Diploma at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

Mr. Khomyakov is a prizewinner of numerous competitions, including First Prizes at the St. Petersburg Open, ISAM International, Susan Torres International, and Bell T. Ritchie International Piano Competitions. He won Second Prize at the Houston Symphony Ima Hogg International Music Competition and was a medalist at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. Mr. Khomyakov received Third Prize and the Audience Prize at the Anton Rubenstein International Piano Competition, Diploma and Best Transcription Performance Prizes at the Emil Gilels 90th Anniversary International Piano Competition, and Fourth Prizes at Maria Canals and Jose Iturbi International Piano Competitions.

Vladimir Khomyakov is an assistant to Daniel Pollack, and also teaches weekly piano masterclasses for piano majors at the Thornton School of Music. Mr. Khomyakov is a Jury member of ISAM international Piano Competition (Baden Wurttemberg, Germany).

Highly praised by jurors and audiences, South Korean pianist Hyun Jung Kim has won major competitions and performed in concert halls around the world.

Her exceptional talent has garnered top prizes in numerous competitions, including First Prize at the Asia Chopin International Competition, Second and Special Prizes at the Paderewski International Piano Competition, Second Prize at the Taipei International Chopin Competition, Third Prizes at the Rhodes International and Gina Bachauer Piano Competitions, Fourth Prize at the Seoul International Competition, and Fifth Prize at the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition.

Ms. Kim made her debut with the Seoul Symphony at the age of 10. She has performed with other orchestras such as Paderewski Pomeranian, IASI, and Sungnam Philharmonics, and the Tokyo, KBS, Seoul, Kaoshung, and Suwon Symphony Orchestras. The prizes from the leading competitions led her to major halls including Seoul Recital Hall, Taipei National Concert Hall, ACT CITY Hamamatsu Main Hall, Paderewski Philharmonic Hall, and Ongakudo Concert Hall, among many others.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the Korean National University of the Arts and is currently attending the Peabody Institute of Music. Hyun Jung Kim is a Yamaha Artist.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in E major from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 878 Picker: Four Etudes for Ursula, No. 3 (1996) Rakowski: Piano Études

25. Fists of Fury (1999)

33. Sliding Scales (2001) Scriabin: Étude No. 1, Op. 65 Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi sonata

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 867 Rakowski: Piano Études

11. Touch Typing (1996)

40. Strident (2002) Corigliano: Winging it (2008)

III. 6/7/08 Granados: Goyescas, Op. 11, Quejas, o la Maja y el Ruiseñor Saint-Saëns/Liszt: Danse macabre, S. 555

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Bach/Siloti: Prelude in B minor, BWV 855a Mozart: Sonata No. 3 in B-flat major, K. 281 Schumann: Fantasie in C major, Op. 17 Prokofiev: Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 28

Beethoven: Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a, Les adieux Glinka: The Lark (arr. Balakirev) Liszt: Sonata in B minor, S. 178

FINAL

FINAL

Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

44

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

MEET THE COMPETITORS SANGYOUNG KIM

YOUKYOUNG KIM

SOUTH KOREA

SOUTH KOREA

Praised by The Cleveland Plain Dealer as a “brilliant champion,” and by La Libre Belgique for her “poetic enchantment” and “epic performance,” internationally recognized pianist Sangyoung Kim has gained attention for her performances and in May 2013 became a Laureate of the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition. Ms. Kim has continued to succeed in competitions such as the New England Conservatory Concerto Competition and the Heida Hermanns International Music Competition, and obtained not only the Gold Medal but also the Russian and Chopin Etude Prizes from the Usasu Bösendorfer International Piano Competition.

Youkyoung Kim was born in Busan, South Korea, and began her piano studies at the age of 5. She has performed in many recitals and with chamber ensembles throughout South Korea, Germany, and the United States. In 2010, She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Seoul National University. She has won numerous competitions, including the Mozart Piano Concerto Competition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Korean Chopin Competition, the Eumyoun Competition, the Samick Piano Competition, the Suri Music Competition, and the Music Chunchoo Magazine Piano Competition. As a winner of the Mozart Piano Concerto Competition, she performed with the CCM Philharmonic Orchestra in April of 2013. She is currently studying at the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music.

Ms. Kim has appeared as soloist with the NEC Philharmonia Orchestra, Concord Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie in Belgium, and the National Orchestra of Belgium. Her chamber music performances have taken her to Jordan Hall, the Fraser Performance Studio at WGBH Radio, and Harvard University.

In 2009, Ms. Kim was invited to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. to give a recital as the part of the Millennium Stage Concert series.

After graduating from the Seoul Art High School, Ms. Kim matriculated at New England Conservatory and is currently pursuing a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue No. 23 in B major from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 892 Corigliano: Winging it (2008)

III. 6/7/08 Carter: Caténaires (2006) Nancarrow: ¿Tango? (1983) Czerny: Variations on a Theme by Rode, Op. 33, La Ricordanza Scriabin: Sonata No. 5, Op. 53 Grünfeld: Soirée de Vienne, Op. 56

Debussy: Préludes, Book I

La fille aux cheveux de lin (1910)

Minstrels (1910) J.S. Bach: French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816 Rakowski: Piano Études

25. Fists of Fury (1999)

28. You’ve Got Scale (2000)

40. Strident (2002) Chopin: Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60

Étude No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 10

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Haydn: Sonata in C minor, Hob. XVI:20 Beethoven: Variations and Fugue in E-flat major, Op. 35, Eroica Schulz-Evler: Variations on the Blue Danube Waltz (Strauss), Op. 12

Beethoven: Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a, Les adieux Chopin: Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35 Prokofiev: Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14

FINAL

FINAL

Prokofiev: Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16

Chopin: Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

45

SANGHIE LEE

ZHENNI LEE

SOUTH KOREA

CHINA

Sanghie Lee began studying piano at the age of 5. She has won First Prize at several major competitions in Korea, including the Beethoven Competition of Korea, Piano Duo Association of Korea Concours, Yonsei University Concerto Competition, and the Haneum Music Competition of Korea.

Ms. Lee has performed in numerous solo recitals, chamber recitals, music festivals, and concerts in Korea and the United States. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Yonsei University College of Music, and obtained a Performer’s Diploma at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She is currently a doctoral student, at the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music.

Zhenni Li, hailed as a “magnetic pianist—with fire and poetry. Everyone should hear her,” by music critic David Dubal, has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and China in notable concert halls including Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Morgan Library in New York, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles, the California Theater in San Jose, Théâtre de Vevey in Switzerland and the National Concert Hall in Tianjin, China.

Ms. Li is a prizewinner of numerous competitions, most recently the unanimous First Prize at the Concours Musical de France, and was in the final six at the renowned Concours Clara Haskil in Switzerland.

She was a top prizewinner at the International Russian Piano Competition in San Jose, California. Ms. Li was privileged to have been awarded the Yamaha Scholarship in 2004, a distinguished honor bestowed upon a handful of piano students throughout Asia.

Ms. Li began her piano studies at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music.

Upon moving to the United States, Ms. Li enrolled in the Juilliard School, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She is currently pursuing her Artist Diploma at the Yale School of Music.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in G minor from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 885 Rakowski: Piano Études

14. Martler (1997)

21. 12-Step Program (1999) Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 Corigliano: Winging it (2008)

III. 6/7/08 Scriabin: Sonata No. 5, Op. 53

Scarlatti: Sonata in F minor, K. 466 Rakowski: Piano Études

68. Absofunkinlutely (2005)

25. Fists of Fury (1999) Nancarrow: ¿Tango? (1983) Chopin: Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op.35, The Funeral March

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Beethoven: Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op.10/3 Muczynski: Sonata No. 3, Op. 35 Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9

Beethoven: Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42 Chopin: Mazurkas Nos. 1-3, Op. 59

FINAL

FINAL

Liszt: Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124

Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

MEET THE COMPETITORS A N A S TA S I YA N A P L E K O VA

I G O R PA N C E V S K I

U N I T E D S TAT E S

MACEDONIA

Winner of the Rudolf Firkusny International Piano Competition in Prague, Anastasia Naplekova was born in Kharkov, Ukraine. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music.

Ms. Naplekova won prizes in the 2014 Hilton Head International Piano Competition, the 6th International Ignacy Paderewski Piano Competition in Poland, the International Piano Competition in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz in Ukraine, the 4th International Adilia Alieva Piano Competition in France, and the Wideman Piano Competition in Louisiana, among many others. Recently she performed with the Frost Symphony Orchestra at the opening night of the 2012 Miami Festival under the baton of Leon Fleisher. She has performed concerti with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and the Crimea State Symphony Orchestra, among others. Ms. Naplekova has received special grants from the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, as well as the President of Ukraine.

A native of Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, Igor Pancevski started playing the piano at the age of 8. Early in his studies, he was admitted to the National Music School of Macedonia. He pursued further education at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and received his bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College.

Igor completed his master’s degree and received a Professional Studies Diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Ms. Naplekova received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Kharkov State University of Arts and continued her studies at the University of Florida, where she received a second master’s degree.

Igor has won several prizes at national and international competitions including First Prizes at Gorizia International Competition and Petar Konjovic International Piano Competition, Second Prizes at the 14th Biennial Beethoven Piano Sonata Competition and Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition, and Third Prizes at the Carmel Music Society Piano Competition and PianoArts North American Competition. Igor has performed as a soloist with the Interlochen Arts Camp and Academy Orchestras and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, as well as in a livetelevised performance with “Skopje Soloists” Orchestra in his native country.

An avid chamber musician, Pancevski has performed in chamber music concerts and masterclasses given by musicians such as Menahem Pressler and Robert Mann.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 867 Corigliano: Winging it (2008)

III. 6/7/08 Rakowski: Piano Études

61. Ménage à Droit (2004)

68. Absofunkinlutely (2005) Rachmaninoff: Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36 (1931 edition)

J.S. Bach: Italienisches Konzert, BWV 971 Rakowski: Piano Études

61. Ménage à Droit (2004)

40. Strident (2002) Carter: Caténaires (2006) Rachmaninoff: Prelude No. 5 in G major, Op. 32

Prelude No. 8 in A minor, Op. 32

Prelude No. 10 in B minor, Op. 32

Études-tableaux No. 9 in D major, Op. 39

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Haydn: Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI:32 de Falla: Cuatro Piezas Españolas Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit: Trois poèmes d’Après Aloysius Bertrand

Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9 Beethoven: Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 Scriabin: Sonata No. 5, Op. 53

FINAL

FINAL

Beethoven: Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58

Liszt: Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

47

JIUMING SHEN

SHIZHE SHEN

CHINA

CHINA

Jiuming Shen has performed in renowned venues such as Carnegie’s Weill Hall, the Dalian Culture Club, Curtis Institute of Music, and Shanghai Conservatory of Music’s Concert Hall.

Mr. Shen has won awards at multiple competitions, to include First Prize at the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, Second Prize at the 2nd National Piano Competition (Junior group), and the Bronze Medal at the 6th Chinese Gold Medal Award of Music.

Shizhe Shen has appeared as a recitalist and concerto soloist throughout China, England, Germany, and the United States, in such venues as Wuhan Bianzhong Grand Concert Hall, Wuhan Huangzhong Concert Hall, Hunan Theater Concert Hall, Hunan Grand Concert Hall, Xiangtan Concert Hall, Steinway Concert Hall in England, Wigmore Hall, Constance Pilkington Concert Hall, CoughlinSaunders Concert Hall, and others.

In addition to numerous competitive performances, Mr. Shen has made appearances with the Guangdong Philharmonic Symphony in Guangzhou and the Music College Orchestra in Melbourne as well as a chamber and solo performance at the Curtis Institute of Music student recital series.

Notable awards include the Song Qinglin National Scholarship (2004), and First Prizes at the Gold Melody Piano Competition (2006), QinTai Piano Competition (2007), Christopher Duke Piano Competition (2010), Purcell School Concerto Competition (2010), and Third Prize at the Louisiana International Piano Competition (2013).

After Mr. Shen attended the primary and middle schools attached to the Shanghai Conservatory, he moved to the United States to attend high school at City Center Academy in Philadelphia. He then earned his Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music.

Ms. Shen was born in 1994 and started playing piano at the age of 6. After attending the middle school of the Wuhan Conservatory of Music, Ms. Shen studied at the Purcell School for Young Musicians in England. Since 2011, she has attended the Hochschule für Musik (Hannover). She has played in masterclasses for Peter Nagy and Jerome Rose.

Mr. Shen is currently pursuing his Artist Diploma from the Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

Handel: Suite in E major, HWV 430 Liszt: Années de pèlerinage

Première année: Suisse No. 6, Vallee d’Obermann Corigliano: Winging it (2008)

III. 6/7/08 Rakowski: Piano Études

28. You’ve Got Scale (2000)

30. A Gliss is Just a Gliss (2000) Kernis: Superstar Etude No. 1 (1992)

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in D major from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 850 Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141

No. 3 in G-sharp minor, La Campanella Carter: Caténaires (2006) Rakowski: Piano Études

68. Absofunkinlutely (2005) Albéniz: Iberia, Book III

El Albaicín Liszt: Ballade No. 2 in B minor, S. 171

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Beethoven: Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110 Schumann/Liszt: Widmung, S. 566 Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Beethoven: Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, Waldstein Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254, R. 90 Chopin: Nocturne No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 9 Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin Toccata Debussy: Préludes, Book II

Feux d’artifice Chopin: Étude No. 11 in A minor, Op. 25, Winter Wind

FINAL

FINAL

Liszt: Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124

Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

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2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

MEET THE COMPETITORS REED TETZLOFF

J U L A N WA N G

U N I T E D S TAT E S

CHINA

Reed Tetzloff, a fourth-year undergraduate at Mannes College, made his Lincoln Center debut during the 2011-2012 season with the Mannes Orchestra conducted by David Hayes at Alice Tully Hall. He gave his New York solo recital debut at Merkin Hall in November 2012, as the winner of Mannes’ Nadia Reisenberg Competition.

Mr. Tetzloff has performed concerti with the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, the Mississippi Valley and Minnesota Orchestras, the Queens and Tbilisi Symphonies, and the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra.

Julan Wang, born in Chongqing, China, started his music study at the age of 6. In 2003, he was admitted to the middle school of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music and in 2006, he began to study at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he subsequently received his bachelor’s degree in 2010. He then came to the United States, studying at the San Francisco Conservatory, where he finished his master’s degree in 2012. He is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Mr. Tetzloff recently won Third Prize and a Special Prize for “Best Recital in the Semifinal Round” in the 2013 Tbilisi International Piano Competition, and has taken First Prizes in the Beijing International Music Festival and Academy Concerto Competition, the American Protégé, and Bradshaw and Buono International Competitions, - resulting in two performances at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall - and Second Prize at the Schimmel International Competition, in a year when First Prize was not awarded. He was voted Audience Favorite in the first and semifinal rounds at the 2013 World Piano Competition, and was a finalist in the New York Concert Artists and Associates Carnegie Hall Debut Auditions.

In 2011, he won a Special Prize in the Wideman International Piano Competition, and in 2008, was the Third Prize winner in the National Finals of the Music Teacher’s National Association Piano Competition.

Julan has received many prizes in competitions, such as the China Youth Competition, Wiesbaden International Piano Competition, Asian Chopin Competition, and the College-Conservatory of Music Concerto Competition. In China, he performed in Chongqing, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Anhui. In 2012, he appeared as soloist with the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra and conductor Mark Gibson, performing Beethoven’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major. In 2013, He won the Second Prize of the Louisiana International Piano Competition, and presented Liszt’s first concerto with the Rapides Symphony and conductor Roberto Gianola. He has received the Outstanding Scientists and Artists Scholarship since 2012, awarded by the Enlight Foundation.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 867 Carter: Caténaires (2006) Nancarrow: ¿Tango? (1983) Liszt: Années de pèlerinage

Première année: Suisse No. 6, Vallee d’Obermann Debussy: Préludes, Book II

Feux d’artifice Scriabin: Vers la flamme, Op. 72 Kernis: Superstar Etude No. 1 (1992)

Rakowski: Piano Études

68. Absofunkinlutely (2005)

33. Sliding Scales (2001)

30. A Gliss is Just a Gliss (2000) J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 876 Chopin: Étude No. 6 in G-sharp minor, Op. 25

Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 55 Stravinsky: Trois mouvements de Pétrouchka

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Haydn: Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI:52 Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 47 Griffes: Sonata, A. 85 Debussy: Images, Book I

Reflets dans l’eau Bartók: Sonata, Sz. 80

J.S. Bach: Partita in D major, BWV 828 Haydn: Sonata in E major, Hob. XVI:31 Liszt: Sonata in B minor, S. 178

FINAL

FINAL

Liszt: Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125

Liszt: Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

49

HYUN JI YOU

MING-HANG ZHANG

CHINA

CHINA

Hyun ji You began studying piano at the age of 8 and from an early age received First Prizes at a number of piano competitions in Korea. At age 11, she entered Ye Won Middle School, one of the most respected arts schools in Korea and in 2002 she entered the prestigious Seoul Arts High School.

In 2004, Ms. You won many prizes from a number of piano competitions including First Prizes at the Kyung-Won University Competition and the Eum-Yeon Competition, and Second Prizes at the Osaka International Competition, Segye Ilbo Competition, and Eum AkChunchu Competition. She has participated in festivals including the 13th Euro Music Festival in Prague, Busan International Music Festival, the Spain Tenerife Music Festival, and the Berlin Music Festival.

Born in Shenyang, Ming-Hang Zhang received her first piano lesson at the age of 7. She gave her first recital at the age of 12 in Liaoning and made her concerto debut in Perugia, Italy, when she was 14. Ms. Zhang has won several prizes in competitions in China, and received the Yamaha Asian Music Scholarship in 2009. She has performed in venues including Liaoning Theater, Jordan Hall, Sala dei Notari, Keiter Center, Pierce Hall, and the Concert Hall of Shenyang Conservatory. Ms. Zhang is currently enrolled at the New England Conservatory.

After graduating from Seoul Arts High School, Ms. You was granted early admission to the Seoul National University for her outstanding academic performance. Ms. You has competed in the World Piano, Wideman International, Louisiana International, Hamamatsu International, Russian International, and Queen Elisabeth piano competitions.

Ms. You studies at Indiana University where she is currently working on an Artist Diploma.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in F major from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book II, BWV 880 Picker: Four Etudes for Ursula, Nos. 3 and 4 (1996) Chopin: Ballade No.4 in F minor, Op. 52 Dutilleux: Sonata for Piano (1947-48)

III. Choral et variations

Scarlatti: Sonata in B minor, K. 27

Sonata in A major, K. 212 Chopin: Polonaise-fantasie in A-flat major, Op. 61 Picker: Four Etudes for Ursula (1996)

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Haydn: Sonata in A-flat major, Hob. XVI:46 Chopin: Nocturne No. 1 in B major, Op. 62 Schumann: FantasiestĂźcke, Op.12 Rachmaninoff: Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36

Beethoven: Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110 Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 Scriabin: Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp major, Op. 30 Prokofiev: Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 28

Four Études, Op. 2

FINAL

FINAL

Prokofiev: Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26

Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

50

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

MEET THE COMPETITORS WA N T I N G Z H A O

ADAM ZUKIEWICZ

CHINA

POLAND

Wanting Zhao was born in Shenyang, Northeast China, and began her piano studies at the age of 4. At 15, her First Place performance on the entrance examination earned her direct admission to the prestigious middle school attached to the China Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

Ms. Zhao has been a finalist in many national and international piano competitions. She has won First Prizes at the 11th Xing Hai Cup China National Piano Competition, 14th Hong Kong-Asia Piano Open Competition, Hong Kong-Asia Piano Open Competition (Beethoven Sonata class), and the 2nd “KAWAI” China National Piano Competition. Ms. Zhao has also won Second Prize Second Prize in the “Cadenza” Cup China National Piano Competition, and Third Prizes at the Hong Kong-Asia Piano Open (Open Class) and Oberlin International Piano Competitions. In 2008, she was selected as a finalist at the Eastman International Piano Competition for Young Artists and this year, Ms. Zhao won First Prize and Audience Favorite Award at the Young Texas Artists Music Competition. She is currently a senior at Texas Christian University.

Adam Piotr Żukiewicz maintains an active international career and performs solo recitals as well as chamber music concerts with his recently founded Max Joseph Trio.

He debuted in 2013 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Sinfonietta, and at the Munich Opera Festival Chamber Music Concert Series.

He performed during the 2007 Millennium Stage Conservatory Project at the Kennedy Center, and in 2010 participated with the Max Joseph Trio in the Peace Concerts Series organized by the Museum of the city of Jawor. Mr. Żukiewicz took First Prize at the 2012 Shean Piano Competition in Edmonton, Canada, as well as First Prize at the 2011 TD Canada Trust Music Competition, and Second Prize at the 13th Pacific Piano Competition in Richmond, British Columbia.

Mr. Żukiewicz holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University. He has also studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, UK, and is a graduate of the United World College of the Adriatic in Duino, Italy.

FIRST ROUND

FIRST ROUND

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Book I, BWV 849 Carter: Caténaires (2006) Nancarrow: ¿Tango? (1983) Rakowski: Piano Études

68. Absofunkinlutely (2005) Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24

Bach: Prelude and Fugue in G major from

Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, BWV 860, Book I Albéniz: Iberia, Book I Picker: Four Etudes for Ursula, Nos. 3 and 4 (1996) Rachmaninoff: Études-tableaux No. 1 in C minor, Op. 39

SEMIFINAL ROUND

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Mozart: Fantasy and Sonata in C minor, K. 475 & 457 Prokofiev: Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82

Haydn: Sonata in D major, Hob. XVI:33 Liszt: Sonata in B minor, S. 178 Villa-Lobos: Valsa da dor in D major, A. 316 Bizet/Horowitz: Variations on a Theme from Carmen (1926)

FINAL

FINAL

Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

51

STAR TECHS

Keeping competition pianos in top shape takes another kind of keyboard artist.

by Kathleen Doane

The World Piano Competition is akin to the Olympics for piano technicians Eric Wolfley and Rebekah Wortman, because a lot is riding on their performances, too. If the two Steinway concert grand pianos onstage aren’t properly tuned and voiced, the 24 competitors won’t be able to showcase their talent properly.

One or both of the technicians are on call throughout the six-day event, sitting in the audience or waiting in the wings, ready to step in and fix anything that might go wrong. And things go wrong, from the need for a “touchup” tune-up between performances to the most common repair, a string breaking, to - God forbid - one of the many small wooden parts of the piano action mechanism breaking. (The last has never happened during the WPC on Wolfley’s and Wortman’s watch, but it could.)

Of course, their basic responsibility is to keep the pianos in tune, which isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Despite air conditioning, heat and humidity can wreak havoc on pitch. And no two pianos are alike, especially these instruments, which Wolfley compares to a highly engineered racecar.

“Some certainly tune easier than others,” he says. “A piano that refuses to tune when it’s 35 percent humidity is a dream when the humidity is 50 percent.” And yes, the techs have gauges to measure that difference.

“Whether it’s due to the environment around the piano changing or from several hours of demanding playing, piano work is something that is never finished,” Wortman explains. Still, the biggest enemy of proper pitch during the WPC is the stage lights.

“We get there around 7 am and turn on the lights, raise the lid, then go to breakfast,” Wolfley explains.

“When we come back about an hour later, the temperature onstage has risen to about 80 degrees, which is what it will be during the competition, so that’s the temperature we tune to.” The techs usually will do an additional tuning each day of the competition and smaller adjustments throughout the day as needed.

52

2014 WORLD PIANO COMPETITION

Piano technician Eric Wolfley places the “grand piano action” for the 2013 finals.

Wolfley and Wortman are among the best at what they do. Wolfley is the piano technician for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and both are on staff at the College-Conservatory of Music, responsible for keeping the school’s 241 pianos in shape, including six concert grands.

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One of the more “mysterious” aspects of a piano tech’s job is voicing the instrument, which means manipulating the hammers to give the piano a particular tone. “I generally know what pianists of this caliber want,” Wolfley says. “You definitely don’t want one note to stick out more than another.” Tricks of the trade: Putting a couple of drops of hardener on the felt of the hammer to make the sound brighter or inserting needles into the felt to soften the tone.

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In Wolfley’s expert hands, there’s even a quick fix for a broken string: splicing. It can take a while for a new string to stabilize so tying the broken one with a special knot close to the tuning pin actually is a better solution if one breaks during or right before a performance. “You do it with pliers, and it’s a big stumbling block for a lot of technicians, but I get a lot of practice here at CCM,” he says.

Wolfley’s greatest fear: “The stagehands will be wheeling the piano across the stage and a leg will break.” He says it’s never happened, but the mere thought makes him shudder.

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