Festival for Creative Pianists

March 27-28, 2009

The 2009 festival will be held on March 27-28 (Friday & Saturday), 2009 with a "kick-off" Guest Artist Recital by Stuart Isacoff, one of the three judges, on Thursday evening, March 26th at 7:30 P.M.

Mesa State College
Department of Music
Moss Performing Arts Center
1221 N. 12th St.
Grand Junction, Colorado 81501

Please visit this site again as we gradually post updated details on all our pages.

Eligibility (revised):
Pianists up to age 19 as of 3/27/09 from anywhere in the world (see eligibility).
Applications (see online application):
Early applications (before 1/1/09): Due to the enthusiastic feedback after the '08 festival, we anticipate greater interest in the '09 festival. Pianists are urged to apply early to insure their place in the '09 festival. Early applications will be considered now through Dec. 31, 2008, upon submission of the following:
1) Completed online application (section on repertory may be left blank for now).
2) An in-person audition (contact Dr. Houle) or a representative recording (CD, DVD, videotape or audiocassette) by the applicant. (This requirement may be waived for those who have won prizes in our festival and/or other competitive venues. Contact Dr. Houle.) For audition or recording please perform two contrasting selections. These pieces need not be the same as the piece(s) that will be played at the festival.
3) Application fee of $50 and photo (not necessary if applicant has submitted photo in a previous festival).
Participants:
Approximately 20-25 students.
Repertory and Attendance Requirements:
Students play up to 15 minutes of repertory (any style, for solo piano and/or concerto movement as two-piano reduction), and the judges provide constructive written and verbal feedback. Depending on the repertory, the judges determine for which prize(s) each contestant qualifies.

To qualify for First Prizes, all students must attend the Saturday evening Winners Recital (3/28/09, 7:30 P.M.) and one or both of the two preceding evening concerts.

Students who cannot meet all attendance requirements may, at the discretion of the Director, qualify for honorable mention prizes. Contact Dr. Houle.

Philosophy and unique educational mission:
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 mere "autonomic wizardry" featured in most 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, in a major article in the April 2003 issue of Clavier, and in other music publications such as Piano & Keyboard, Piano Today, and the London-based Piano magazine. Sponsors have included many piano dealerships at the local and corporate level. Please patronize our generous sponsors.
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 2009 festival: Stuart Isacoff and Monte Atkinson.

Donations:
We need and appreciate your generous support!
Donations have tax benefits, and are payable to Mesa State College Music Department.
IMPORTANT: Please indicate "piano festival" in the memo portion of checks.

Mailing address for donations:
     Dr. Calvin Hofer
     Chair, Department of Music
     Mesa State College Moss Performing Arts Center
     1221 N. 12th St.
     Grand Junction, CO 81501

RESULTS OF THE 2008 FESTIVAL FOR CREATIVE PIANISTS
(Held on March 21-22 at Mesa State College; click here to see photos.)

All 17 contestants are to be commended for their fine performances! Every student who fulfilled the attendance requirements received a “Participant Certificate” and a free CD recording. First prize winners were awarded $100 for each prize earned. Honorable Mention recipients received an additional CD recording.

• Christina Qi from Logan, UT (student of Gary Amano) won the “BEST PERFORMANCE OF A PRE-BAROQUE, BAROQUE WORK OR CLASSICAL PERIOD WORK” award for her performance of Beethoven’s “Waldstein” Sonata, 1st movement.

• Jonathan Keith from American Fork, UT (student of Irene Peery-Fox) won the “BEST PERFORMANCE OF A ROMANTIC PERIOD WORK” award for his performance of Rachmaninoff’s Moment Musical Op. 16 No. 4.

• Christina Qi from Logan, UT (student of Gary Amano) won the “BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN IMPRESSIONISTIC OR CONTEMPORARY WORK (IN ANY STYLE)” award for her performance of Debussy’s Poissons d’or (Goldfish) from Images, Book II.

• AJ Bush from Fort Collins, CO (student of Lisa Bush; now pursuing studies at Colorado State University) won the “BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE BY A FEMALE COMPOSER” award for her performance of an original work in D minor.

• Matt Scofield from Grand Junction, CO (student of Monte Atkinson) won the “BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK” award for his performance of MacDowell’s To a Wild Rose from "Woodland Sketches."

• Matt Scofield from Grand Junction, CO (student of Monte Atkinson) won the “THE J.B. HART MUSIC AWARD FOR BEST MESA COUNTY (CO) PIANIST” award for his varied performances, which included Beethoven’s Sonata in G Minor, Op. 49, No. 1, 1st movement.

• John Ahern from Grand Junction, CO (student of Andrea Arese-Elias) won the “BEST COLORADO PIANIST” award for his varied performances, which included Ravel’s Jeux d'eau.

• Jonathan Keith from American Fork, UT (student of Irene Peery-Fox) won the “MOST VERSATILE PIANIST” award for his varied performances, which included a jazz improvisation.

• Hope Chynoweth from Grand Junction, CO (student of Arthur Houle) won the “BEST DEMONSTRATION OF EMBELLISHING AND/OR IMPROVISING IN A CLASSICAL WORK (an appropriate Baroque, Classic or Romantic period work, or Neo-Classical contemporary work)” award for her performance of Chopin’s Valse in A Minor, Op. posth. (published 1955), in which Hope played original variants on repeats.

• John Ahern from Grand Junction, CO (student of Andrea Arese-Elias) won the “BEST DEMONSTRATION OF SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION IN A JAZZ, POP, GOSPEL OR RAG STYLE WORK” award for his performance of an original jazz composition.

• Jonathan Keith from American Fork, UT (student of Irene Peery-Fox) won the “THE SUSAN TORGRUDE AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN ORIGINAL COMPOSITION BY THE CONTESTANT” award for his performance of an original composition for left hand alone entitled The Veil.

• Fay Fay Ye from Salt Lake City, UT (student of Susan Duehlmeier) won the “BEST PERFORMANCE OF A TASTEFUL TRANSCRIPTION OR ARRANGEMENT (IN ANY STYLE, ORIGINAL OR NOT) FOR PIANO SOLO” award for her performance of Chen Peixun’s Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake.

HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS

Honorable Mention awards were given to:

• Jessica Garton, in two categories: “BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE BY A FEMALE COMPOSER” and “BEST DEMONSTRATION OF EMBELLISHING AND/OR IMPROVISING IN A CLASSICAL WORK (an appropriate Baroque, Classic or Romantic period work, or Neo-Classical contemporary work)”

• Zachary Bush: “MOST VERSATILE PIANIST” category

• Lauren Mann: “BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN IMPRESSIONISTIC OR CONTEMPORARY WORK (IN ANY STYLE)” category

• Jack Cohen: “BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK” category

Creative Teaching Incentive Award

The "Creative Teaching Incentive Award" was awarded to Lisa Bush of Grand Junction, CO

The judges for the 2008 festival were Dr. John Salmon, Dr. Anthony Olson, and Dr. Monte Atkinson.

JUDGES' PROGRAM CD'S NOW AVAILABLE!

We are pleased to announce that CD recordings of the Judges Program (3/21/08) are available. Enjoy John Salmon's amazingly creative and embellished Bach as well as Anthony Olson's flamboyant performance of the music of Gottschalk! Contact Dr. Houle for details.

We are grateful to our 2008 festival contributors, without whom this festival would not have been possible:

Evelyn Billberg
Paul C. Collins, M.D.
Juli Draney
Azam and Arthur Houle
Bijan and Jenny Houle
John and Linda Stedman
Susan Torgrude, M.S. (Environmental Researcher/Planner, BOELTER DESIGN GROUP, Inc.)

Thanks also to Mesa State College, the Grand Junction Music Teachers Association,
& to J. B. Hart Music for their sponsorship.

YAMAHA PIANOS & CLAVINOVAS • FENDER & MARTIN GUITARS
AMP's • DRUMS • PA's • KORG KEYBOARDS
417 Main St., Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 242-9282 or 1-800-310-9282

Kudos also to our volunteers:

Evelyn Billberg
Lisa Bush
Victor Chambers
Joann Hall
Joan Kruckenburg
Lynnsey Lambrecht
Malinda Lyons
Jackie Smith

We also appreciate the day-to-day support and tireless contributions of our music department chair, Calvin Hofer, and our fine arts administrative assistant, Lyn Ross.

Finally, a hearty thanks goes to Frank & Jayne Steuart for their hospitality in hosting our out-of-town judges.

RESULTS OF THE 2004 FESTIVAL:

The 2004 festival was held at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy, 516 South 9th St, Boise ID 83702.

Fourteen-year-old Jonathan Keith from American Fork, Utah, scooped a record
four First Prizes for versatility, original composition (his own highly
sophisticated piece, titled "Daydreams") and jazz transcription (stunning
improvisations on "Piano Man" by Billy Joel and "Satin Doll" by Duke
Ellington). Jonathan demonstrated a wide range of ability by also playing
music of classical elegance (Mozart) and bravura technique (Liszt).
Jonathan was also a First Prize winner in the 2003 festival.

Jonathan's four awards were for the following categories:
    - MOST VERSATILE PIANIST
    - BEST DEMONSTRATION OF SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION IN A JAZZ, POP,
GOSPEL OR RAG STYLE WORK
    - BEST ORIGINAL COMPOSITION PERFORMED BY ANY CONTESTANT
    - BEST PERFORMANCE OF A TASTEFUL TRANSCRIPTION OR ARRANGEMENT (IN ANY
STYLE, ORIGINAL OR NOT) FOR PIANO SOLO

Another top winner was twelve-year-old Boise pianist Stephanie Sherwood, who
won multiple First Prizes for three consecutive years. Stephanie's
combination of traditional and contemporary music - including a remarkably
mature original composition entitled "Ilmen Lindele" - earned her a total of
three First Prizes:
    - MOST CREATIVE OR VERSATILE IDAHO PIANIST
    - BEST ORIGINAL COMPOSITION PERFORMED BY AN IDAHO CONTESTANT
    - BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE BY A FEMALE COMPOSER

Jessica Roderer (Wellsville, Utah) took First Prize in two categories -
    - BEST PERFORMANCE OF A PRE-BAROQUE, BAROQUE, OR CLASSICAL PERIOD WORK
    - BEST PERFORMANCE OF A ROMANTIC PERIOD WORK

Other First Prize winners were:
:   - Jessica Wu (Boise, ID), BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN IMPRESSIONISTIC OR
CONTEMPORARY WORK
    - Jaymeson Pon (Meridian, ID), BEST IDAHO PIANIST IN REPERTORY
EXCELLENCE
    - Eric Sater (Meridian, ID), BEST PIANIST FROM THE IDAHO TREASURE VALLEY
    - Bethany Sigurdson (Nyssa, Oregon), BEST DEMONSTRATION OF EMBELLISHING
AND/OR IMPROVISING IN A CLASSICAL WORK
    - Josh Wright (Sandy, UT), BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND
PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK.

Five students won Honorable Mentions:
    Morgan Bailey, Emily Black, Chris Doudy, and Tiffany McKain (all from
the Treasure Valley), as well as Amanda Nelson from Salt Lake City, Utah.

The "Creative Teaching Incentive Award" was awarded to Mary Lou Koto, who
teaches in Fruitland, Idaho, and is a 1973 graduate of Albertson College.

We are grateful to the many volunteers who helped make this year's festival
a great success. They include Cathy & Joshua Archibald-Seiffer, Mary &
Morgan Bailey, Julie Barson, Halimah Brugger, Cathie Doudy, Juli Draney,
Nancy Galvin, Sheryl Hillman, Azam Houle, Kim Hovren, Fran McKain, Ai Chin
Pai, Gay Pool, the Richards family (Andrea, Sarah & Paulette), Nancy
Sherwood, Linda Sigurdson, Dave Tacher, Johann Vargas, Myako Yamamoto and
many others we have doubtless inadvertently failed to mention.

We are also grateful to our very special perennial judge, Dr. John Salmon from
the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and to all our expert
clinicians and recitalists from Oregon, Colorado and Boise State University:

Dr. Matt Cooper, Chuck Smith, Dr. David Wohl , Dr. Del Parkinson, Marion Corron, David Tacher, Justin Nielsen, Halimah Brugger, Nancy Galvin, and Dr. Arthur Houle

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Idaho Music Teachers Association

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