Proudly Presents
MAY 2, 2024 | 7 PM
KATHY & GARY CONRAD CHORAL ROOM | DMS 101
DR. SARKIS BALTAIAN, DIRECTOR
MS. KELLY NEFF, INSTRUCTOR
WELCOME
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS PIANIST PROGRAM
Dr. Sarkis Baltaian Director, Instrumental Music Conservatory Pianist Program Strings & Orchestra Program
Ms. Kelly Neff Instructor, Pianist Program
About OCSA Pianist Program:
The Pianist Program enhances the training of middle and high school pianists whose goals include a performing or academic career. In addition to the Instrumental Music theory, history, and musical elective curriculum, the Pianist Program offers classes in solo performance training, piano skills and style topics, score and sight- reading, piano ensemble, and chamber music. World- renowned visiting artist teachers offer frequent coaching to students in the Piano Master Class.
A message from the Director:
Thank you for attending OCSA’s 2023-24 Spring Junior Piano Conservatory Recital! Students in the Pianist Program will perform for you pieces from the world’s greatest piano literature.
We are very proud of our students’ dedication and hard work in preparing for tonight’s recital. Their commitment to our program and to their art is inspiring to us all.
Enjoy tonight’s music!
The Steinway B Concert Grand piano for tonight’s performance has been prepared by Mr. David Stoneman
PROGRAM OF THE EVENING
Trois Etudes de Concert No.3, S. 144 “Un Sospiro”
Zachary Zheng (VIII grade)
32 Variations on an Original Theme in C minor, WoO 80
Stanley Hsiao (VII grade)
Polonaise mélancolique No. 1 in C minor, S. 223 No. 1
Allison Phan (VII grade)
Prelude and Fugue in C sharp Major, BWV 848
Seojin Park (VIII grade)
Gradus Ad Parnassum, Op. 44 No. 9 in A Major
Alexander Vu (VIII grade)
Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 875
Angelina Chang (VIII grade)
Sonata No. 17, Op. 31 No.2 in D minor “Tempest”
III. Allegretto
Luwen Zhang (VII grade)
Intermezzo in A Major Op. 118, No. 2
Cindy Yanuo Wang (VIII grade)
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75
No. 2 Scene
No. 4 Young Juliet
Yihan Hannah Hu (VIII grade)
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11, S. 244/11
Angelina Nguyen (VII grade)
Brief Intermission
F. Liszt
L. V. Beethoven
F. Liszt
J. S. Bach
M. Clementi
J. S. Bach
L. v. Beethoven
J. Brahms
S. Prokofiev
F. Liszt
PROGRAM OF THE EVENING
Impromptu Op. 90 No. 2 in E flat Major
Skyler Tran (VIII grade)
Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 847
Ashley Tran (VII grade)
Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat Major, S. 541/R. 211
Aven Ko (VII grade)
Sonata op. 57 in F Minor, “Appassionata”
III. Allegro ma non troppo – Presto
Ryan Jian (VIII grade)
F.Schubert
J. S. Bach
F. Liszt
L. v. Beethoven
Toccata Op. 15
Tony Gong (VII grade)
Trois Etudes de Concert No.3, S. 144 “Un Sospiro”
Grace Lam (VII grade)
R. Muczynski
F.Liszt
Miroirs
IV. Alborada del gracioso
Gargoyles, Op. 29, Nos. 1, 2, 4
Mana Asaka (VIII grade)
Tammy Tian Yu-Ye (VIII grade)
M. Ravel
L. Liebermann
DR. SARKIS BALTAIAN, DIRECTOR OF THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CONSERVATORY
Dr. Sarkis Baltaian has gained an international reputation as a concert pianist, chamber musician, recording artist and pedagogue. He has been praised by critics for his “beautiful tone and ability to project even the most delicate pianissimos” and compared to George Gershwin and Oscar Levant for his performance of Gershwin’s Concerto in F. Dr. Baltaian made his Carnegie Hall Debut in 1999 and has performed extensively both as recitalist and concerto soloist with major orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia.
A top prize winner of national and international competitions, Dr. Baltaian attended the University of Southern California under the direction of renowned pedagogue and concert artist John Perry where he also served as his teaching assistant.
A dedicated teacher, Dr. Baltaian’s students have won various national and international competitions and have been accepted at schools such as the Eastman School, New England Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, USC, UCLA, Rice University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Santa Barbara, Pomona College and University of Colorado at Boulder.
Dr. Baltaian has held full time professor positions at the Colburn Conservatory and UAHuntsville. He currently serves on the faculty of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music and maintains a private studio in Orange County and Los Angeles, working with award winning students.
PIANIST KELLY JIYEON NEFF, INSTRUCTOR
The First prize and top prize winner of the Wideman International Piano Competition, San Jose International Piano Competition, Cooper International Piano Competition, Piano-Ohio of Cleveland International Piano Competition, and Kingsville International Music Competition, the Texas Christian University’s Cliburn Institute Concerto Competition, and Seoul Philharmonic Concerto Competition.
Ms. Neff’s solo, chamber, and orchestral performances were held in North America, Asia, and Europe. On radio, she has performed for the WQXR (New York), WFMT (Chicago), WCLV (Cleveland), KDB (Santa Barbara), and KXMS (Joplin). Ms. Neff attended the renowned Music Academy of the West, PianoTexas international Festival, Banff Centre International Keyboard Festival, Mannes International Keyboard Institute & Festival studying with artists such as Boris Berman, Wha Kyung Byun, Pavlina Dokovska, Jerome Lowenthal, Julian Martin, John Perry, Jerome Rose, Russell Sherman, Támas Ungár and many others.
Kelly Jiyeon Neff received her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin Conservatory and master’s degree from The Juilliard School where she was awarded Schoenberg scholarship. Highly influenced by her music mentors, professor Jerome Lowenthal, and Haewon Song, she has been a dedicated educator in New York City and Orange County for over 15 years. Ms. Neff joined the OCSA conservatory faculty in Fall 2019.