Results of the 2012 Festival
CMU HOSTS ANNUAL FESTIVAL FOR CREATIVE PIANISTSNineteen Colorado pianists ranging from age 7 to 19 participated in the Festival for Creative Pianists at Colorado Mesa University on April 12-14. Prizes totaling almost $2000 were awarded for creative and repertory excellence. The annual competition was adjudicated by Dr. Gary Smart (University of North Florida), Dr. John Salmon (University of North Carolina-Greensboro), and Dr. Monte Atkinson (Colorado Mesa University).
Austin Carpenter, 18, Colorado Springs student of Jan Saffir, earned top honors by winning three First Prizes: the Daily Sentinel-sponsored $500 prize for Best Composition, the Best Colorado Pianist Award ($100), and the Best Romantic Era Performance Award ($100). Jordan Haren, 14, local student of Marge Zollner, also scooped three First Prizes ($100 each) by being deemed Best Grand Junction Pianist, Most Lyrical Pianist, and Best Classic Era pianist. Andrew Foutz, 15, local student of Monte Atkinson, was dubbed Best Mesa County Pianist and was further recognized for his classical embellishing skill. Faith Krause, 18, Evergreen student of Peggy Krause, also won in two First Prize categories for her performances of contemporary music. Two Loma students from the studio of Catie Mientka, Gareth and Jareth Rader (11 and 13 years old, respectively), created a sensation with their four-hand performance, which prompted the judges to create a new "Best Duet" prize.
Five other students won first prizes: Taryn Brahmsteadt, 16, Grand Junction student of Brita Fay; Tori Fedler, 12, Grand Junction student of Mary Leah Chavies; Caleb Kostreva, 15, Clifton student of Lisa Bush; Jackie Levitt, 15, Eckert student of Joy Thompson; and Marygrace Prinster, 13, Grand Junction student of Mary Leah Chavies.
Three students earned Honorable Mentions: Sophia Feghali, 7, Grand Junction student of Mary Leah Chavies; Johnny Lopez, 19, Grand Junction student of Dr. Arthur Houle; and Hans Snell, 18, Fruita student of Dr. Andrea Arese-Elias.
Every year one teacher is recognized for "fostering creativity, imagination, versatility and/or originality" in students. This year's Creative Teacher Incentive Award was bestowed to Mary Leah Chavies, a longstanding local teacher who was previously honored as "Teacher of the Year" by the Colorado State Music Teachers Association.
The 2013 festival is slated for April 11-13 (contingent on funding). For more information, contact the founder and director, Dr. Arthur Houle at ahoule@coloradomesa.edu or 970.248.1069
Colorado Mesa University
(formerly Mesa State College)
Department of Music
Moss Performing Arts Center
1100 North Avenue*
Grand Junction, Colorado 81501
* Although North Avenue is the mailing address of the Moss Peforming Arts Center, it is actually located at the corner of 12th St. and Bunting Ave. at 1221 N. 12th St.
We are grateful to Hart Music for providing a special Yamaha AvantGrand as one of the two stage pianos throughout the 2011 festival.SPECIAL $500 PRIZE!
Due to the generosity of our supporters, the prize for BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN ORIGINAL COMPOSITION has been increased to $500.
Eligibility:
Pianists up to age 19 as of 4/12/12 from anywhere in the world.
Applications:
Auditions and recordings are not necessary. Enrollment is open but limited to 24; priority is given to earlier applicants. See application page.
Due to our limit of 24 participants, early applications are strongly encouraged. Early applications need not indicate repertory (repertory will be requested later); the non-refundable application fee will secure a place in the festival.
Repertory and Attendance Requirements:
Students play up to 15 minutes of repertory (any style, for one or two pianos). After students perform, they will receive about 10 to 20 minutes of constructive verbal feedback from the judges. All students will also receive written comments.
To qualify for First Prizes, all
students must attend the Saturday evening Winners Recital and one or
both of the two preceding evening
concerts.
IMPORTANT NEW REQUIREMENT: In addition, all students must attend a minimum of 3 adjudications (in addition to their own).
All adjudications are open to the general public. There will be a nominal suggested donation fee of $5 per adjudication session per person; however, CONTESTANTS IN THE FESTIVAL (AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY) WILL NOT BE CHARGED FOR ANY ADJUDICATIONS. For others, an alternative to $5 per session would be a flat $20 fee, which will confer admission to every adjudication session throughout the festival. Fees are waived for festival volunteers (e.g., those who help by being door monitors, taking festival pictures, providing refreshments, etc.). Fees can also be waived in cases of financial hardship; adjudication fees and admittance fees to the Friday and Saturday evening programs are simply suggested donations to help support the festival.
Students who cannot meet all attendance requirements may, at the
discretion of the Director, qualify for honorable mention prizes.
Contact Dr. Houle.
This festival is the only competition of its
kind in the world, combining both classical and jazz idioms in a
constructive educational setting. Students compete for standard
baroque through contemporary repertory prizes, as well as for
novel prizes that promote neglected but important creative skills
and repertory -- e.g., original concerto cadenzas & classical
embellishing/improvisation (skills demonstrated by nearly all
great composers yet all but forgotten today), versatility (needed
to survive in today's competitive market), lyricism (usually
overshadowed by "loud and fast" playing), original compositions
(few venues exist for young serious composers), works by female
composers, tasteful arrangements/transcriptions (often disallowed
in other venues), etc.
We seek to foster diverse and well-rounded musicianship that goes
beyond the "autonomic wizardry" that is often overemphasized in other
competitions. Above all, pianists are urged to develop and
showcase their unique talents and perform with individuality,
personality, exuberance, originality and spontaneity.
The festival has been cited on NPR's Performance Today, various newspapers, and in music periodicals such as American Music Teacher,
Clavier Companion, Piano & Keyboard, Piano Today, and the London-based Piano magazine.
It was also profiled in a major article in the April 2003 issue of Clavier magazine.
Most recently, articles about the festival appeared in the Mesa State College Fall 2010 Newsletter and the March 2009 issue of Grand Valley Magazine. The festival was also endorsed by the International Piano Teachers Guild
"for providing an excellent competition for the piano community."
Supporters have included many piano dealerships at the local and
corporate level. Please patronize our business supporters.
Participants:
Up to 24 students.
Judges/clinicians:
Our world-class judges are generally experts in
both classical and jazz/pop styles as well as all forms of
improvisation. This combination of skills is rare; furthermore,
judges are chosen for their ability to work well with young
people and provide useful, learned and positive feedback, both
verbally and in writing.
Featured adjudicator: John Salmon.
We are pleased to announce that two other
distinguished judges will join Dr. Salmon for the 2012 festival:
Gary Smart and
Monte Atkinson.
Interested in Colorado Mesa University?
If you are a junior or senior in high school and considering colleges, your participation in this festival can double as an official audition to the Colorado Mesa University music program. Contact Dr. Houle.
Donations:
We need and appreciate your generous
support!
Donations have tax benefits, and are payable to Colorado Mesa University Music Department.
IMPORTANT: Please indicate "piano festival" in the memo portion
of checks.
Mailing address for donations:
Dr. Calvin Hofer
Chair, Department
of Music
Colorado Mesa University Moss
Performing Arts Center
1100 North Avenue
Grand Junction, CO
81501
Telephone: 970.248.1163