Our thirteen-year-old, Orion Kim, was named the First Place Winner of the Saint Paul Piano Teachers Concerto Competition!! The event was held this past Saturday, December 7th, at the Recital Hall of Schmitt Music, Brooklyn Center. In addition to scholarship monies, Orion's amazing performance of the first movement of Saint-Saens Concerto No. 2 in G minor, won him the opportunity to perform with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra on February 9th, 2020 at 3:00 pm. The concert will be held at Augustana Lutheran Church, 1400 S. Robert Street, West St. Paul. This continues Orion's blazing record of concerto wins - for one so young - on the scene of Minnesota pianism. He has won the concerto competitions of the Golden Valley Orchestra, the Dakota Valley Orchestra, the Minnesota International Piano Camp, and the Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum. These multiple, first place wins, have resulted in performances with the Golden Valley Orchestra, the Dakota Valley Orchestra, the Minnesota International Piano Camp Chamber Orchestra, and the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra.
Taking Third Place is our much beloved Beatrice (Bea) Grant. She performed a passionate and fiery first movement of Mendelssohn's Concerto No. I in G minor . Also performing beautifully in the competition was Jasmine Jiang, playing the first movement of Saint-Saens magnificent Concerto No. IV . Jasmine is displaying intense artistic growth, developing deep feelings to go along with her electric technique. Finally, our youngest participant was Ariella Kim who performed the finale of Haydn's masterpiece, the Concerto in D Major. She played with such grace, charm, maturity, and panache at such an early age - just turning ten years old. She received rave praise from the judges. She exhibits the same kinds of gifts as her older brother, Orion.
And, of course, none of this would be possible without the great, sensitive performances of our collaborative pianists, Kerri LeJeune, and Maria Grant.
Yours in Music -
Joe & Jo Anne