In my most recent writing, I posted an account of our great Andre Previn Peck's achievement of reaching the finals of the Nashville Chopin International Piano Competition. Now, I am so happy to report that our amazing Katherine Asia Hibbs has also reached the finals of the 6-10 year-old age category. So now, all four of us will be in Nashville together along with their intrepid, resourceful, and brilliant moms, Chau Nguyan and Linda Hibbs. It should be one of the great thrills of our careers! We expect that Andre and Kate will perform their very best in the service of their music. The event will take place at the Martha Rivers Ingram Center for the Performing Arts of the renowned Vanderbilt University.
As many of you know, Kate and her family made a very difficult and challenging move to Singapore last January - in the middle of the year. This was for her father's work. Kate secured a position with the head of the keyboard division, Professor Albert Tiu, at the Singapore National University , YST Conservatory while maintaining her remote studies with Jo Anne. So far, all parties have made this difficult arrangement work for Kate as she has continued to thrive.
This past summer, Kate was invited to the Music Fest Perugia (Italy) where she made her concerto debut with the Orchestra Europe Musica, conducted by Eitan Globerson. She performed the first movement of Mozart's Concerto in A Major, K. 488. Much acclaim was showered on Jo Anne's masterful teaching and intensive preparation of the concerto as well as high praise for Kate's amazing performance. These comments came from some of the world's leading pianists and pedagogues including Jon Perry, Ilana Vered, Ian Jones, Alexandre Moutouzkine, and conductor, Eitan Globerson.
In addition to all of this, Kate was just selected for the finals of the 11th Steinway and Sons Youth International Piano Competition
in the Hongkong and Macau Regional. Only 5 candidates have been selected. The finals will be in Shanghai, China.
Yours in Music -
Joe & Jo Anne