Welcome to our new website! We are excited to keep a more up-to-date online presence with this new platform. Without further ado, here is a recap of Recents since our last post in January:
From an initial pool of almost three hundred applicants worldwide, our alumnus, Kenny Broberg, took Fourth Place in the Sydney International Piano Competition. The competition was held at the world renowned Sydney Opera House in Australia. Kenny presented almost four hours of works in six rounds that spanned more than two weeks of competition. Works presented were comprised of solo, chamber, and concerto literature. In the finals, Kenny performed two concertos with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. As our own wonderful Nita Qiu observed, Kenny’s playing was “. . . astoundingly gorgeous.” I invite all to visit the Sydney International Competition web-site where all of Kenny’s performances have been archived. Meanwhile, Kenny has left the University of Houston after completing his studies with the great Nancy Weems. He has taken up residence at the International Center for Music at Park University near Kansas City. Kenny was hand-picked by the great Russian pianist, Stanislav Ioudenitch, to study with him in an intensive mentorship program. Kenny studied with me for nine years.
In other alumni news, Anna Waldron, just won First Place in the New Orleans Piano Institute and Keyboard Festival! Anna will be playing the Grieg Concerto next season with the New Orleans Civic Symphony. She will continue her studies this fall as a Junior Piano Major (also) with Nancy Weems at the University of Houston.
Here at CHS, Collin Jinks has enhanced his already awesome and brilliant student career with some very significant awards and artistic ventures since last January. In July, Collin was a Finalist in The International Institute for Young Musicians (IIYM) International Competition held at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Subsequently, he performed on the Winners’ Concert at the Lawrence Art Center, the Dan Harris Donor’s Concert, and the Academy’s Student Recitals. In June, Collin was one of just three high school pianists selected to study at The Apprentice Program, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Art of the Piano. It is a very high-level institute and mentorship program, primarily for undergraduate and graduate students, featuring some of the world’s top artists/teachers of the piano. Collin had many wonderful performing and listening experiences at this program. This past spring, Collin was the First Place Winner of the prestigious Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition, High School Division and was a Finalist in the Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition, High School Division. He also had guest artist appearances at the Thursday Musical Winners Concert, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), and the Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum (MMTF). In January, Collin was a Finalist in The Minnesota Orchestra’s Young People’s Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA) Concerto Competition. He was the winner of the Schmitt Prize and the Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum (MMTF) Performance Prize.
This summer, Nita Qiu was named a semi-finalist in two international competitions: The International Institute for Young Musicians (IIYM) International Competition and Academy, University of Kansas School of Music, Lawrence; and the Arthur Fraser International Competition of the Southeastern Piano Festival (SEPF), University of South Carolina School of Music, Columbia. A major scholarship winner to the IIYM Academy, Nita was selected for the Honors Recital and performed in three student recitals. Also a scholarship winner to the SEPF, she was chosen for the SEPF on the Road concert. In July, Nita finished the concert season with a guest artist appearance at The Bethel Series Benefit Concert in Honolulu.
This past January, Noah Qiu was the Third Place Winner of The La Crosse Symphony Orchestra’s Rising Stars Concerto Competition. A notable arts leader in our community, Noah served as Creator, Director, Producer, and Performer of the China Service Ventures Benefit Concert at the Mindekirken Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church in Minneapolis in March. Along with Noah, members of our Premier Class provided an awesome and brilliant concert. Also in March, Noah received Honorable Mention in the Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition, High School Division. For the second year in a row, he was a Finalist in the prestigious International Institute for Young Musicians (IIYM) International Competition in July. While at the Academy of IIYM as a scholarship recipient, Noah was also chosen for the Honors Recital. To close out the concert season, Noah presented another community outreach benefit recital for The Bethel Series Benefit Concert in Honolulu, Hawaii.
In January, as winner of the State Division of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Young Artist Competition – Senior Level, Michael Tang was awarded Honorable Mention at the West-Central Regional Division in Wichita, Kansas. In March, he was selected for the Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) Minnesota Varsity’s Featured Round. As a result, he had the opportunity to make a professional recording aired on Classical MPR. In June, Michael appeared as guest artist at the Minnesota Music Teachers Association State Convention Honors Recital.
In March, Christina Waldron was a guest artist for the China Service Ventures Benefit Concert. This past summer, she attended the Clear Creek Music Festival in Oregon where she performed in student recitals and studied with Gregory Allen. This fall, Christina is continuing her studies with Professor Allen at the prestigious Butler School of Music, University of Texas, Austin as a Piano Major.
In March, Gloriana Wolf was a guest artist for the China Service Ventures Benefit Concert and received Honorable Mention in Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition, High School Division. In June she was named an alternate in the International Institute for Young Musicians (IIYM) International Competition. In July, Gloriana finished the season attending (with Christina) the Clear Creek Music Festival where she also performed in student recitals and studied with Gregory Allen. This fall, Gloriana is continuing her studies with the great Anton Nel also at the Butler School of Music, University of Texas, Austin as a Piano Major. Christina and Gloriana are rooming together as they share their great foray into the world of the piano major.
In January, Stephanie Ye received Honorable Mention at the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra’s Rising Stars Concerto Competition.
Saejin Yoo performed her Liszt Rigoletto for the China Service Ventures Benefit Concert in March and in July she attended The International Institute for Young Musicians (IIYM) Academy. She was chosen for the Honors Recital. Saejin studied with Jack Winerock and John McCarthy. Saejin is having a very busy fall as she prepares her auditions for music school this winter.
All of this has happened just since January! The fall is off to a quick start and we will keep everyone up-to-date!
Yours in Music –
Joseph & Jo Anne