Winners of the 2017 Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition announced

The tension and anticipation in the audience and among the participants was mounting, as a panel of distinguished judges deliberated.  At last, the jury panel emerged, results in hand. To a great cheer, Joseph Rackers, Program Director of the festival, announced the results.

Here are the winners:
1st Prize – Catherine Huang
2nd Prize and Best Solo Prize – Kasey Shao
3rd Prize – Eric Lin
Discretionary Awards Winners – Eriko Darcy, Raymond Feng, Yannie Tan
Best Contemporary Work written after 1990 – John Cao
Young Jury Award – Catherine Huang
Congratulations to all!

From left to right: Yannie Tan, Erico Darcy, Raymond Feng, Kasey Shao, Eric Lin, Catherine Huang, John Cao

Photo credit: Michael Bull

 

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2017 Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition Livestream

There is always nervous hush that comes over the participants, when the number drawing ceremony for the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition begins, and this past Sunday was no exception.  The 2017 Southeastern Piano Festival participants were quiet, as one by one they came to draw their respective numbers that would determine the order of the performances in the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition that takes place this Friday, June 23, 10 AM – 9:30 PM at the University of South Carolina School of Music Recital Hall.

The complete schedule of performers together with their repertoire selection for the competition can be viewed here: 2017 COMPETITION Schedule-Repertoire

The competition will be live streamed – just go to the southeasternpianofestival.com home page to view it as it unfolds.

2017 Southeastern Piano Festival pushes boundaries with Piano Extravaganza

In June of 2017 the Southeastern Piano Festival is celebrating 15 years of making music, educating and presenting over 250 pianists in concerts, masterclasses and the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, and sharing the great art of piano playing with the audiences from the Southeast and beyond.  From 13 year-old prodigies to world-acclaimed piano virtuosos, from piano teachers to music aficionados, the festival offers something to everyone who loves piano and music.

As of May 1, 2017 tickets have gone on sale for our most daring Piano Extravaganza concert which opens the festival on June 18, 2017 in Koger Center at 4:00 PM.  15 pianists will perform music that spans more than 100 years, from Debussy’s Clair de Lune to Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk, performing on up to five (!) Steinway grands.  This multi-piano showcase features a cameo appearance by Anderson & Roe piano duo and Orff’s Carmina Burana, a choral masterpiece that combines pianos, percussion and an award-winning Miami-based choir, for a grand finale.

The week continues with a stellar line-up of world-renown artists we are fortunate to host here in Columbia for the week of the festival.  Performing during the 2017 Festival are Anderson & Roe, a groundbreaking, style-crossing dynamic piano duo that feel equally at home playing Michael Jackson hits and Vivaldi. They have appeared on NPR and MTV, recorded Billboard chart-topping albums, toured worldwide as recitalists and orchestral soloists, and released Emmy-nominated, self-produced music videos viewed by millions; Frederic Chiu, a piano world guru with a unique voice and insight into new and traditional repertoire; Vadim Kholodenko, Gold Medalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition; and Anna Han and Chaeyoung Park, two former award winners of the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition.

In addition to presenting new and world-renowned concert pianists, the Southeastern Piano Festival is a high-level training platform for young pianists. The twenty pre-college pianists selected for 2017 festival can hold their own on the concert circuit already.  Many of them have won awards and prizes from other prestigious venues and competition and are veterans of the concert stage.  Visit our Facebook page where we gradually reveal our rising stars chosen to participate in this year’s festival.

The Festival culminates with the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition sponsored by the Symphony League of Columbia, SC. After a rigorous weeklong program, the young pianists compete for cash awards and the opportunity to perform with the South Carolina Philharmonic. The competition takes place Friday, June 23, at the School of Music Recital Hall from 10 am to 10 pm (with breaks) and it’s free and open to the public.

Concerts take place at venues around the city throughout the week and have moderately priced tickets with $5 student rush tickets and free tickets to those 18 and younger one hour prior to each concert. To purchase tickets, visit us here. New levels of sponsorships and subscriptions are available here.

 

2016 Festival Winners Announced

2016 Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition Jury has announced the results:

David Hou

First Prize – David Hou
Second Prize – Charlie Liu
Third Prize – Daniel Szefer

Discretionary Award – Baron Cao
Discretionary Award – Eric Lin
Discretionary Award – Ethan Yuen

Best Solo Work – David Hou and Charlie Liu

Young Jury Award – Charlie Liu

 

 

Southeastern Piano Festival kicks off in June

The 2016 Southeastern Piano Festival—the region’s only piano-focused arts event—begins Sunday, June 12 in Columbia, SC. The weeklong festival kicks off at the University of South Carolina with the highly anticipated Piano Extravaganza Gala Concert, a performance that showcases eight pianists, four Steinway grand pianos and multimedia, including the cutting-edge Steinway Spirio piano, known as the world’s highest resolution player piano. World-renowned artists follow throughout the week.

“It’s rare to have such a bright constellation of pianists in one city”, says Marina Lomazov, the festival’s Artistic Director.

2016 Guest Artists include Sergei Babayan, winner of the Queen Elisabeth and Hamamatsu International Competitions and soloist with orchestras worldwide, Ann Schein, a protégé of Arthur Rubinstein, whose remarkable career includes performing as soloist with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, the duo of Ran Dank and Soyeon Kate Lee, first and second prize winners in the Naumburg Competition and rising star artist Eric Lu, prizewinner in the Warsaw Chopin Competition and a Southeastern Piano Festival alumnus.  Juilliard Professor Julian Martin will join the festival as Chair of the Jury for the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition.

In addition to the concerts, twenty of the most gifted pre-college pianists from across the country participate in a rigorous program of lessons and master classes, as well as competing in the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition. The festival offers an insider’s view of the making of the next
generation of pianists, says Program Director Joseph Rackers. “The level of young pianists keeps rising, and any one of them has the potential to go on to a career as a professional pianist”.

Throughout the week, traditional and unconventional venues host performances, transforming downtown Columbia into a destination for piano concerts. “From the Columbia Museum of Art and Trinity Cathedral to the Big Apple historical building, there are concerts throughout downtown and something for everyone”, says Lomazov.

Moderately priced tickets make attending multiple concerts possible. Master classes, discussions and competition performances are free. The Southeastern Piano Festival “Konzert Kidz” program allows all children under the age of 18 to attend any of the concerts for free. A complete list of festival events and tickets are available at southeasternpianofestival.com.

2016 Southeastern Piano Festival Concert Schedule

June 12, 4 p.m. Johnson Performance Hall, Darla Moore School of Business

Marina Lomazov, Joseph Rackers, Philip Bush, Charles Fugo and guest pianists featured on four Steinway Grand pianos.  Tickets: $20 general admission, $5 students, free 18 and under

June 13, 7:30 p.m. USC School of Music 

Rising Star artist Eric Lu. Tickets: $20 general admission, $5 students, free 18 and under

June 14, 4:30 p.m. Big Apple Building

SEPF On the Road student participants concert, free

June 14, 7:30 p.m. Columbia Museum of Art

Sergei Babayan.  Tickets: $20 general admission, $5 students, free 18 and under

June 15, 7:30 p.m. USC School of Music

Soyeon Kate Lee and Ran Dank.  Tickets: $20 general admission, $5 students, free 18 and under

June 16, 7:30 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

Ann Schein.  Tickets: $20 general admission, $5 students, free 18 and under

June 17, 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, USC School of Music

SEPF Participants compete for the opportunity to perform with the South Carolina Philharmonic, free

June 18, 7:30 p.m. USC School of Music

Winners of the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition.  Tickets: $10 general admission, $5 students, free 18 and under

 

2016 Participants Announced!

Southeastern Piano Festival is proud to present the participants of the 2016 Southeastern Piano Festival, which will take place in Columbia, SC, June 12th-19th. Joining us from across the country, each participant was chosen from a record number of applicants.

Participants of the 2016 Southeastern Piano Festival:

Anastasia Magamedova, of Murray, UT; student of Heather Conner
Baron Cao, of State College, PA; student of Dea Baba
Charlie Liu, of Princeton, NJ; student of Ingrid Clarfield
Christian Chiu, of Pittsburgh, PA; student of Natasha Snitkovsky
Daniel Che, of Plano, TX; student of Yifan Liu
Daniel Oslin, of Lynnwood, WA; student of Drs. Nancy Jang and Duane Hulbert
Daniel Szefer, of Winnetka, IL; student of Ralph Neiweem
David Hou, of Hawthorn Woods, IL; student of Alan Chow
Eric Lin, of Falls Church, VA; student of Marjorie Lee
Ethan Yuen, of Palo Alto, CA; student of Hans Boepple
Hans Chan, of St. Louis, MO; student of Annette Burkhart
Heather Hsun Chang, of Palo Alto, CA; student of Corey McVicar
Jarrett Takaki, of Wilmette, IL; student of Sueanne Metz
Jason Zhang, of Dallas, TX; student of Tamas Ungar
Josephine Chan, of San Francisco, CA; student of Corey McVicar
Lewis Zou, of Solon, OH; student of Alvin Chow
Mahima Kumara, of State College, PA; student of Dea Baba
Nita Qiu, of Woodbury, MN; student of Dr. Joseph Zins
Oliver Betz, of Brooklyn, NY; student of Matti Raekallio
Roger Shen, of Northbrook, IL; student of Jon Sakata

Congratulations to all applicants, their teachers, parents, and friends! It takes tremendous work, talent, courage, focus, and support from many individuals to achieve what you have achieved and we look forward to you joining us this June!

“Piano Extravaganza” Open Call Auditions on May 1st, 2016

Open Call Auditions

(Piano Students ages 5-13 are eligible)

To perform in the Piano Extravaganza Concert!  
Sign up to audition and you could perform before a live audience as part of the biggest piano event of the year: Southeastern Piano Festival’s Piano Extravaganza, on June 12th, 2016, at 4:00 PM in the Darla Moore School of Business Johnson Hall.

A special work for 8 pianists and four grand pianos was commissioned as part of the 2016 Southeastern Piano Festival initiative to involve children in creating, attending, and appreciating live music.  A young up-and-coming composer, Sasha Yakub, will compose a fantasy for 16 hands with hit songs like Frozen, Uptown Funk, and others.

Auditions will be held on May 1st at the USC School of Music, Room 231, at 813 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208. Piano students ages 5-13 are eligible to audition. Prepare two pieces for the auditions: one memorized solo work of your choosing and the part for the Piano Extravaganza concert.

To register, please first pay the $10 registration fee here. Be sure to write down the Order Number, enter it at the bottom of the registration form, and complete all required information.

Below is the link to the folders containing the parts for you to prepare for your audition in addition to the memorized work of your choosing.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B5YodytRX06GZDJBbkRncDl0eFE&usp=sharing

The parts for children 5-13 are in the folder labeled “Audition Scores” and a MIDI recording has been included in a separate folder for download to hear the work. The full score has been included in the link as well as the adult scores for teachers to help prepare students; however, the Audition Scores are what are to be selected and prepared for the audition. The scores are divided by levels as follows and students should prepare the excerpts indicated beneath the scores:

• Primo 1 (Intermediate)
  • mm. 23-27 taking the second ending
    mm. 42-57
    m. 65- to the downbeat of m. 73
    mm. 96-99
• Secondo 2 (Intermediate)
  • mm. 25-30 taking the second ending
    mm. 44-45 with the option to continue through m. 55
    m. 55-to the downbeat of m. 57
    mm. 67-75
• Secondo 3 (Beginner)
  • mm. 21-27 taking the second ending
    m. 55-to the downbeat of m. 57
    mm. 67-73
    mm. 85-92
• Secondo 4 (Beginner)
  • m. 21-27 taking the second ending
    mm. 42-45
    mm. 54-57
    mm. 67-73

Student’s should prepare only one part in addition to their memorized solo work. The judges are most interested in a student’s ability with tempi, rhythm, counting, attention to dynamics, and overall stage presence. The audition times will be scheduled closer to May 1st. All levels are welcome to audition. There will be at least three rehearsals, two during the month of May, and a dress rehearsal on June 11.

The winners of the audition will be notified by email and phone as well as announced on our Facebook page and website.  One additional award for the “most promising young pianist” will be announced at the Piano Extravaganza Concert.  The award will include a festival t-shirt, a feature in the 2017 festival and four tickets to any of the 2016 SEPF concerts of the winner’s choosing.

If you have any questions, please email sepf@mozart.sc.edu and we will be happy to talk to you.

Sincerely,

Southeastern Piano Festival