Chopin Festival 2020
Summary
We had a wonderful event with 18 participants - 9 live and 9 remote - over two days: Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18, 2020. Our largest adult amateur event ever. The morning recitals were followed by lunch, then a lecture and recital by one of our judges, Sohyoung Park and Andrew Staupe, and master classes - 10 in all.
Our venue was the offices of HCSS who have generously made available a beautiful concert Steinway! Special thanks to Mike Rydin of HCSS.
We had a wonderful event with 18 participants - 9 live and 9 remote - over two days: Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18, 2020. Our largest adult amateur event ever. The morning recitals were followed by lunch, then a lecture and recital by one of our judges, Sohyoung Park and Andrew Staupe, and master classes - 10 in all.
Our venue was the offices of HCSS who have generously made available a beautiful concert Steinway! Special thanks to Mike Rydin of HCSS.
Saturday
Recital, 10:30am to 12:30pm
Live Performance
Lunch Break, 12:30pm to 1:30pm
The Society will provide lunch from La Madelaine for all participants and one guest each. Participants are encouraged to bring a beverage.
Lecture and Performance by Sohyoung Park, 1:30pm to 2:00pm
Master Classes, 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Master classes will be held, in parallel, in the main room with the concert Steinway and a side room with a Yamaha grand. Each judge will give a 45-minute master class to the participant. All others are encouraged to attend and listen in on these informative classes.
Main Room
Side Room
Sunday
Recital, 10:30am to 12:30pm
Live Performance
The Society will provide lunch from La Madelaine for all participants and one guest each. Participants are encouraged to bring a beverage.
Lecture and Performance by Andrew Staupe, 1:30pm to 2:00pm
Master Classes, 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Master classes will be held, in parallel, in the main room with the concert Steinway and a side room with a Yamaha grand. Each judge will give a 45-minute master class to the participant. All others are encouraged to attend and listen in on these informative classes.
Main Room
Side Room
Deadline for receipt of the recorded performances is Saturday, October 10. email the Society with the download link before October 10. Please get the best results possible. A smartphone can make a reasonable recording (be advised that placing the phone on the keyblock is not recommended; the video should be taken from a distance of several feet at least). If you use a video camera it is a good idea to disable the automatic sound level adjustment, if possible, so that dynamic levels of your playing can be clearly heard.
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Due to the situation brought about by the pandemic, we intend to offer participants to play either live or to record their performance. The entire event will be broadcast on Zoom (or equivalent). We expect to begin the event with the live performances followed by playing the submitted recordings. We hope each judge will say a few words about performing Chopin and play a short recital. This will be followed by the master classes: first live and the virtual.
The on-line application is available in our Store. Select one of the two products: "Recital Only" or "Recital and Master Class". Within each product you may select "Live" or "Recorded" performance. If you choose "Recorded", provide a link to the site where the video may be downloaded (the link does not have to be submitted with the application and may be sent later via email).
The deadline for the application is October 3, 2020.
Deadline for receipt of the recorded performances is Saturday, October 10. You may submit your application without the recorded performance link and email the Society with the download link before October 10.
For the live performances we intend to take the upmost precautions to insure the safety of our participants, including a mask requirement.
If you choose to record your playing, please get the best results possible. A smartphone can make a reasonable recording (be advised that placing the phone on the keyblock is not recommended; the video should be taken from a distance of several feet at least). If you use a video camera it is a good idea to disable the automatic sound level adjustment, if possible, so that dynamic levels of your playing can be clearly heard.
Recital, 10:30am to 12:30pm
Live Performance
- Michael Rydin, Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. Posth., Prelude in D-flat Major, Op. 28, No. 15
- Paul Kesseler, Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 45, Nocturne in B Major, Op. 62, No. 1
- John Slaby, Prelude in F-sharp Major, Op. 28, No. 13, Prelude in D-flat Major, Op. 28, No. 15
- Phillip Walker, Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53, Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. Posth., Etude in C minor, Op. 25, No. 12
- Eileen Gu, Nocturne in G minor, Op. 37, No. 1
- William Garodnick, Prelude in F-sharp Major, Op. 28, No. 13, Etude in C minor, Op. 25, No. 12, Nocturne in F-sharp Major, Op. 15, No. 2
- Julian Brown, Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 4, Prelude in B minor, Op. 28, No. 6
- Liliane Hay, Ballade in G minor, Op. 23
- Asako Tsumagari, Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2, Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 50, No. 3, Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 42
Lunch Break, 12:30pm to 1:30pm
The Society will provide lunch from La Madelaine for all participants and one guest each. Participants are encouraged to bring a beverage.
Lecture and Performance by Sohyoung Park, 1:30pm to 2:00pm
Master Classes, 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Master classes will be held, in parallel, in the main room with the concert Steinway and a side room with a Yamaha grand. Each judge will give a 45-minute master class to the participant. All others are encouraged to attend and listen in on these informative classes.
Main Room
- Michael Rydin, Live, with Sohyoung Park (~2:00pm)
- Phillip Walker, Live, with Sohyoung Park (~2:50pm)
- Eileen Gu, Live, with Andrew Staupe (~3:40)
Side Room
- Asako Tsumagari, Remote, with Andrew Staupe (~2:00pm)
- William Garodnick, Remote, with Andrew Staupe (~2:50pm)
- Julian Brown, Remote, with Sohyoung Park (~3:40)
Sunday
Recital, 10:30am to 12:30pm
Live Performance
- James Willsey, Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2, Etude in A-flat Major, Op. 25, No. 1
- Ronnie Ip, Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. Posth.
- Grace Huang, Etude in C-sharp minor, Op. 10, No. 4, Etude in C minor, Op. 25, No. 12, Prelude in A Major, Op. 28, No. 7, Sonata in B minor, Op. 58, Finale
- Tony Tran, Etude in F minor, Op. 25, No. 2, Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48, No. 1
- Carol Dales, Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 55, No. 2, Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48, No. 1
- Ching Yu, Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57
- Pei-Li Huang, Etude in G-flat Major, Op. 25, No. 9, Scherzo in B-flat minor, Op. 31
- Roni Binshtock, Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9, No. 1, Waltz in E minor, Op. Posth.
- Melissa Clark, Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17, No. 4
The Society will provide lunch from La Madelaine for all participants and one guest each. Participants are encouraged to bring a beverage.
Lecture and Performance by Andrew Staupe, 1:30pm to 2:00pm
Master Classes, 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Master classes will be held, in parallel, in the main room with the concert Steinway and a side room with a Yamaha grand. Each judge will give a 45-minute master class to the participant. All others are encouraged to attend and listen in on these informative classes.
Main Room
- Grace Huang, Live, with Andrew Staupe (~2:00pm)
- Carol Dales, Remote, with Andrew Staupe (~2:50pm)
Side Room
- Ching Yu, Remote, with Sohyoung Park (~2:00pm)
- Pei-Li Huang, Remote, with Sohyoung Park (~2:50pm)
Deadline for receipt of the recorded performances is Saturday, October 10. email the Society with the download link before October 10. Please get the best results possible. A smartphone can make a reasonable recording (be advised that placing the phone on the keyblock is not recommended; the video should be taken from a distance of several feet at least). If you use a video camera it is a good idea to disable the automatic sound level adjustment, if possible, so that dynamic levels of your playing can be clearly heard.
-------
Due to the situation brought about by the pandemic, we intend to offer participants to play either live or to record their performance. The entire event will be broadcast on Zoom (or equivalent). We expect to begin the event with the live performances followed by playing the submitted recordings. We hope each judge will say a few words about performing Chopin and play a short recital. This will be followed by the master classes: first live and the virtual.
The on-line application is available in our Store. Select one of the two products: "Recital Only" or "Recital and Master Class". Within each product you may select "Live" or "Recorded" performance. If you choose "Recorded", provide a link to the site where the video may be downloaded (the link does not have to be submitted with the application and may be sent later via email).
The deadline for the application is October 3, 2020.
Deadline for receipt of the recorded performances is Saturday, October 10. You may submit your application without the recorded performance link and email the Society with the download link before October 10.
For the live performances we intend to take the upmost precautions to insure the safety of our participants, including a mask requirement.
If you choose to record your playing, please get the best results possible. A smartphone can make a reasonable recording (be advised that placing the phone on the keyblock is not recommended; the video should be taken from a distance of several feet at least). If you use a video camera it is a good idea to disable the automatic sound level adjustment, if possible, so that dynamic levels of your playing can be clearly heard.
Recital
Recital participants are invited to perform a selection of one longer or several shorter contrasting compositions of Chopin up to the time limit of 15 minutes. Participants are NOT required to perform works from memory and may use original sheet music. There is no repertoire requirement other than the work must be by Chopin. Please note only original versions will be accepted – no transcriptions, no arrangements!
Participants will receive written comments from the judges as well as a Diploma of Recognition.
Master Classes
Master classes will be offered. Participants must select a composition by Chopin for instruction, preferably a piece performed during the recital. Please indicate preferred Master Class Presenter on the application form. Preferences will be filled in order of receipt of the applications.
Judges
We have two judges who will provide written evaluations for the recital, teach the master classes and perhaps give a short performance and lecture. We are excited to have Sohyoung Park of Rice University and newest member of our Society. We also will have Andrew Staupe of the University of Houston who served as our judge for our previous youth competition.
Recital participants are invited to perform a selection of one longer or several shorter contrasting compositions of Chopin up to the time limit of 15 minutes. Participants are NOT required to perform works from memory and may use original sheet music. There is no repertoire requirement other than the work must be by Chopin. Please note only original versions will be accepted – no transcriptions, no arrangements!
Participants will receive written comments from the judges as well as a Diploma of Recognition.
Master Classes
Master classes will be offered. Participants must select a composition by Chopin for instruction, preferably a piece performed during the recital. Please indicate preferred Master Class Presenter on the application form. Preferences will be filled in order of receipt of the applications.
Judges
We have two judges who will provide written evaluations for the recital, teach the master classes and perhaps give a short performance and lecture. We are excited to have Sohyoung Park of Rice University and newest member of our Society. We also will have Andrew Staupe of the University of Houston who served as our judge for our previous youth competition.
