Sixth International Chopin Youth Competition

November 7, 2009
Houston Community College

Final Round Results

Elementary Category

Medalists

  • Vi Nguyen, Gold Medal
  • Fang Qing Cai, Gold Medal
  • Daniel Whatley, Silver Medal
  • YaYa Qu, Bronze Medal
  • John Cao, Bronze Medal
  • Sunny Chen, Bronze Medal

    Outstanding Polonaise

  • YaYa Qu
  • Tomas Jonsson
  • Daniel Whatley

    Honorable Mention

  • Yeun Joo Ryu
  • Tomas Jonsson
  • Fang Ming Cai
  • Katie Shi

    Junior Category

    Medalists

  • William Ritter, Gold Medal
  • Troy Marasigan, Silver Medal
  • Shokhvrit Mand, Silver Medal
  • Gordon Kwong, Silver Medal
  • Alexander Whatley, Bronze Medal
  • Shehla Syed, Bronze Medal

    Outstanding Polonaise

  • Shokhvrit Mand
  • William Ritter
  • Gordon Kwong

    Honorable Mention

  • Younghan Jeong
  • Douglas Cheong
  • Samantha Lin
  • Emily Ma

    Senior Category

    Medalists

  • Laura Spector, Gold Medal
  • J. Isaac Chua, Gold Medal
  • Millie Shi, Silver Medal
  • Ellen Zhou, Bronze Medal
  • Kambui Deajon-Jackson, Bronze Medal
  • Katherine Wei, Bronze Medal

    Outstanding Polonaise

  • Kambui Deajon-Jackson
  • Laura Spector
  • Joey Sliepka
  • J. Isaac Chua

    Honorable Mention

  • William Chiang
  • JongKwan Lim
  • Winston Wu
  • Joey Sliepka

    Special Awards

  • Laura Spector, Jan Ekier Award for the Best Performance of the Most Difficult Piece

    Congratulations to all our participants!

    Semi-Final Round Schedule

    The semi-round final schedule will be as follows:

  • Elementary division: 8:30AM-11:30AM
  • Junior division: 1:00PM-5:00PM
  • Senior division: 10:00AM-5:00PM
  • Final Round and Awards ceremony: 7:00PM - 10:00PM

    Announcements of the finalists will occur 30 minutes after the end of each division.

    Please arrive at HCC 30 minutes before your performance time. Register at the front desk. Practice rooms will be available.

    The Semi-Final round is free and open to the public. Friends and family are encouraged to attend. Videotaping is allowed.

    Tickets will be available for the Final round at the registration desk. Complimentary tickets are available for each participant and the family members of Finalists. Tickets are $7 for non-finalist family members and senior citizens. All others are $15.

    Houston Community College is located at:

    1010 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N.
    Houston, TX 77043

    The event will take place in the Performing Arts Center. See maps at right.

    Hotel Accommodations

    For hotel reservations please call the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Memorial City. This hotel is a 10 minute walk from the competition, or they will provide a shuttle to the HCC campus. Their telephone number is (281)501-4600. Please mention the group rate of $85 with warm breakfast for participants of the 6th International Chopin Youth Competition, and make reservations before October 31st. For a shuttle from the airport please call 1-800 Blue Van ( 258 3826).

    Results of Preliminary Round

    The preliminary round was judged by a panel of four musicians. Participants were viewed anonymously and each judge gave the participant a score. Teacher's of the participant were not allowed to rate their own students. Scores were averaged and the participants were eliminated on the basis of this score.

    The following participants have passed the preliminary round and will play in the semi- final round at the indicated times:

    Elementary Semi-Finalists

  • Olivia Chen, 8:30 AM
  • Grace Ni, 8:37 AM
  • Vi Nguyen, 8:45 AM
  • Amy Min, 8:54 AM
  • YaYa Qu, 9:02 AM
  • Rino Fujimoto, 9:10 AM
  • John Cao, 9:17 AM
  • Yeun Joo Ryu, 9:25 AM
  • Alissa Kono, 9:32 AM
  • Tomas Jonsson, 9:40 AM
  • Fang Ming Cai, 9:49 AM
  • Daniel Whatley, 10:10 AM
  • Alex Tan, 10:21 AM
  • Fang Qing Cai, 10:31 AM
  • Irena Wan, 10:41 AM
  • Katie Shi, 10:51 AM
  • Sunny Chen, 11:00 AM
  • Phillip Chong, 11:10 AM
  • Daniel Szefer, 11:21 AM
  • Jefferson Tsai, 11:31 AM

    Junior Semi-Finalists

  • Younghan Jeong, 1:00 PM
  • David Pham, 1:12 PM
  • Christopher Richardson, 1:23 PM
  • Troy Marasigan, 1:39 PM
  • Megan Shen, 1:51 PM
  • Laura Hu, 2:02 PM
  • Shokhvrit Mand , 2:12 PM
  • Melissa Lam, 2:26 PM
  • Kenneth Yu, 2:38 PM
  • Jason Tan, 2:49 PM
  • Alexander Whatley, 3:00 PM
  • Caleb Chong, 3:30 PM
  • Douglas Cheong, 3:40 PM
  • Samantha Lin, 3:51 PM
  • William Ritter, 4:02 PM
  • Gordon Kwong, 4:13 PM
  • Colin Shi, 4:28 PM
  • Thomas Yum, 4:38 PM
  • Emily Ma, 4:49 PM
  • Shehla Syed, 5:00 PM

    Senior Semi-Finalists

  • William Chiang, 10:00 AM
  • Luke Tseng, 10:16 AM
  • JongKwan Lim, 10:32 AM
  • Ellen Zhou, 10:44 AM
  • Kambui Deajon-Jackson, 11:05 AM
  • Stephanie Tsai, 11:19 AM
  • Katherine Wei, 11:35 AM
  • Laura Spector, 11:50 AM
  • Teresa Cheong, 1:00 PM
  • Samantha Heinle, 1:14 PM
  • Winston Wu, 1:27 PM
  • Joey Sliepka, 1:44 PM
  • Sophia Dao, 1:59 PM
  • Sherry Zeng, 2:30 PM
  • Danny Jan, 2:43 PM
  • Connie Huang, 3:01 PM
  • J. Isaac Chua, 3:22 PM
  • Millie Shi, 3:50 PM
  • Derek Fossi, 4:06 PM
  • Patrick Wu, 4:20 PM
  • Michael Boyle, 4:36 PM

    Application Information

    General information and rules

    The Sixth International Chopin Youth Competition will take place Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Houston Community College Town and Country Campus, Houston, Texas. This is a one-day event. It is open to pre-college pianists.

    Owing to the popularity of our previous competitions, it will now be necessary for competitors to enter a Preliminary round prior to the main event by submitting a videotape or DVD of the complete performance. The student’s name should appear on the outside of the tape or DVD, but no titles or names should appear on the recording. Individual pieces may be recorded separately but no editing of individual pieces is allowed.

    All applications, recordings and fees must be received in our office by October 16, 2009 (please note: this is not a postmark date). A $50 fee must accompany each application, and should take the form of two checks: a non- refundable fee of $20 for the Preliminary Round and an additional $30 fee for the Semi-final round.

    Successful candidates will be promptly informed of their acceptance to the Semi-final round by letter or email. The results will also be published on our Website. We will return the $30 check along with a letter to all those not accepted to the Semi-final round.

    Make extra copies of the form for each participating student. Information on application forms must be typed or printed in block letters.

    The competitors will be judged by a panel of outstanding musicians. Written comments from the judges will be available following the competition.

    Gold medalists of previous competitions may not compete in the same age category. They may compete in another age category if of the appropriate age.

    Repertoire Requirements

    Contestants are required to perform a selection of one longer or several shorter compositions of Fryderyk Chopin and, in addition, one Polonaise chosen from the list on the application form. Contestants are limited to the total time including the required Polonaise.

    There are three different age categories and time limits:

  • Elementary: K1 - 5 (DOB on or after 9/1/98) 9-minute limit
    G minor, Op. Posth.
    B-flat Major, Op. Posth.
    A-flat Major, Op. Posth.
    G-sharp minor, Op. Posth.
  • Junior: Grade 6 - 8 (DOB between 9/1/95 and 8/31/98) 12-minute limit
    C-sharp minor, Op. 26, No. 1
    B-flat minor, "Adieu"
    C minor, Op. 40, No. 2
    B-flat Major, Op. 71, No. 2
  • Senior: Grade 9 -12 (DOB between 9/1/91 and 8/31/95) 15-minute limit
    D minor, Op. 71, No. 1
    A-flat Major, Op. 53
    E-flat minor, Op. 26, No. 2
    F-sharp minor, Op. 44

    If several smaller works are performed, they should be contrasting in either style or tempo. If a contestant wishes to perform one larger composition (such as a Ballade or Scherzo), which exceeds the time limit, he/she is allowed to play it along with the required Polonaise. Judges reserve the right to cut a performance that exceeds the time limit. Students may choose to skip repeats in the Polonaise to reduce performance time and may play the Polonaise last. These rules apply to all age groups.

    All works must be performed by memory. No changes or substitutions will be accepted. Please note only original versions will be accepted – no transcriptions, no arrangements!

    Awards

  • Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals in each category (Monetary Prizes for Gold Medalists)
  • Honorable Mentions as deserved
  • Special Prize for the best Polonaise in each category
  • Special Prize for the best Mazurka
  • Special Prize for the best among the youngest performers
  • Jan Ekier Award for the best performance of the most difficult work

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