Last night, our fourteen-year-old Andre Peck was awarded First Place in the annual St. Paul Piano Teachers Concerto Competition (SPPTA),
giving a vehement performance of the first movement of Saint-Saens Concerto No. 2 in G minor. In addition to a monetary award, Andre will be presented in concert with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra at Bethel University's Great Benson Hall. The concert will be presented on Sunday, May 19th, at 3:00 pm. It will be a thrill to hear Andre in this large hall (seats approximately 1,500) as it is noted for its fine acoustics. Even the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has recorded here.
There is even more good news from last night's competition. Our Sophomore, Kevin Zhao, was awarded Third Place performing a brilliant and convincing first movement of Mendelssohn's Concerto No. 1 in G minor. And Katie Lu, eleven-years-of-age, also reached the finals playing a fiery and high-energy first movement of Mozart's Concerto in F Major, K. 413. So, of the twenty-five competitors, our studio was represented by eight of our top performers. There were six finalists of which we placed three. Clearly, it was a very satisfying culmination to everyone's hard work and devotion. Our students played their very best. They are all winners!
Belatedly, I want to report that Andre was also named the Alternate Winner (for the second time) at the State Level of this year's Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Young Artist Competition.
And finally, Kate Hibbs, was the Third Place Winner of the inaugural Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition, Young Musician I category. She is also a Finalist in the Steinway Competition in China hosted by Tianjin Juilliard. She has been performing in numerous venues throughout Asia.
More later . . .
Yours in Music -
Joe & Jo Anne