pianist
About the Artist. . .
A seventeen-year-old Senior at Blaine High School, Austin first came to Joe as a Freshman, and has been a leading member of our Young Artist Class for the past 3 1/2 years. Austin has had one of the most explosive, intense, compact, and astonishing journeys in our studio’s history. A fascinating and unique guy, Austin was largely self-taught in piano and completely self-taught as a burgeoning composer, when he entered our program for the Gifted and Talented. He delved into his studies immediately on joining our musical family, and demonstrated an astonishing ability to learn large-scale works very quickly. His playing is powerful, conceptual, and colorful. He demonstrates an intense interest in the art of interpretation which informs not only his pianism, of course, but also his composition. Last year, as a Junior – and seemingly coming from nowhere – he won or placed 2nd in virtually every competition and audition held in our powerful and competitive region. Of special note, was Austin’s receiving First Place in the Minnesota Orchestra’s Young Peoples Symphony Concert Association Concerto Competition (YPSCA). As a result, he will be guest artist with our world-renowned Minnesota Orchestra for six performances in February-March, and two more in June.
As a composer, he was selected for one of the coveted slots in the Schubert Club’s Composer Mentorship Program. Only four students from the upper mid-west were chosen for this program. He is mentoring with Edie Hill, Composer-in-Residence, for this academic year. As a result, his Quintet for Brass will be performed this spring by the Copper Street Brass – also in residence.
Through our studio and our Young Artist World Piano Festival, Austin has acquired many musical friends. He is very interested in, and supportive of, his colleagues. He has been a real leader in our studio and is much loved and admired. He has been a special inspiration to our young “super-boys” coming up in our studio.
Austin is currently preparing to enter music school in the fall as a Major in Composition, with a strong concentration on his chosen instrument, the piano (of course!).
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Winner, First Place – Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Composition Competition – Senior Level (age 15-18) – State Division. Will represent the State of Minnesota at the West-Central Division Competition, University of Colorado, Boulder. Oct. 2011.
- Selected – The Schubert Club Composer Mentorship Program. Edie Hill, Composer-in-Residence. Private Instruction, Roundtables, Theory, Instrumentation, Orchestration. Required work for Brass Quintet to be performed by the Copper Street Brass at Landmark Center. September 2011
- Selected – Christopher O’Riley Master Class. Burnsville Center for the Performing Arts. October, 2011.
- Winner, Honorable Mention – Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Young Artist Competition (Piano) – Senior Level (age 15-18) – State Division. October, 2011.
- Invited Guest Artist – Thursday Musical Morning Concert Series. Antonello Hall, MacPhail Center for the Arts. November, 2011.
- Invited Guest Performance – Young Peoples’ Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA) of the Minnesota Orchestra’s Annual Meeting, at the Women’s Club of Minneapolis. August, 2011.
- Young Artist World Piano Festival, 2011, St. Paul, MN. Selected – Senior Honors Recital; Alessio Bax Master Class; Pavlina Dokovska Master Class; special private lesson with Pavlina Dokovska; Finalist, Senior Concerto Competition. July, 2011
- Selected – International e-Piano Junior Festival Master Class with Arie Vardi. July, 2011.
- Winner, First Place - Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition – Senior High Division. March, 2011
- Winner, First Prize – Minnesota Orchestra’s Young Peoples’ Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA) Concerto Competition. Awarded six to eight performances as guest artist of the famed Minnesot2a Orchestra for the 2011-2012 concert season. Cash award: $1,500.00. Additional awards include the Thelma Hunter Award ($200.00) and the Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum (MMTF) Recital Award ($200.00). This award includes the presentation of a solo recital program for the organization. January, 2011.
- Winner, Second Place – La Crosse Symphony Orchestra’s “Rising Stars” Concerto Competition, January, 2011.
- Winner, First Prize – St. Paul Piano Teachers (SPPTA) Concerto Competition. November, 2010.
- Winner, Second Place – Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. November, 2010.
- Selected – Young Artist Piano Camp UMD Coaching Session with Ksenia Nosikova. July, 2010.
- Selected – Young Artist Piano Camp UMD Master Class with Dr. Daniel Rieppel. July, 2009.
