Competitions

Wishing to encourage excellence in piano performance, NEPTA announces its annual scholarship competitions. The competitions are designed to encourage integrity, beauty and confidence in performance. Winners will be recognized for these qualities regardless of the difficulty of the repertoire.

Alice Hamlet Senior Scholarship Competition

Congratulations go to the following winners of the Alice Hamlet Senior Scholarship Competition held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at M. Steinert and Sons in Boston adjudicated by Michael Lewin, George Lopez and Jon Sakata:

  • First Place Janet Lee, student of Clara Slater
  • Second Place Michael Suo, student of Natalia Harlap
  • Third Place Yoo Min Lee, student of Natalia Harlap

Open to graduating high school students who intend to pursue serious music study. One entrant per teacher. Eligibility: Entrant must have studied since September of the current year with a NEPTA member in good standing (dues received by Sept. 30th) and is required to play in the Senior, Intermediate II or 20th/21 st Century recitals of the current year. Repertoire must be performed by memory and must include:

  1. A composition written before 1750.
  2. A movement of a sonata, a set of theme and variations or a rondo from the Classical Period (no concerti). Schubert Sonatas are acceptable.
  3. A romantic work (Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, and MacDowell belong in this category).
  4. A twentieth-century work (Impressionists included).
  5. Required contemporary piece:  #1 of 9 Bagatelles by William Bolcom “Mazurka” (Note:  NOT from the 9 New Bagatelles) (Edward B. Marks/Hal Leonard) - memory optional.

First Prize: $750; Second, $350; Third, $150.

Ruth Davidson Competition

Congratulations go to the following winners of the Ruth Davidson Competition held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at M. Steinert and Sons in Boston adjudicated by Michael Lewin, George Lopez and Jon Sakata:

  • First Place Yoko Fukumura, student of Clara Slater
  • Second Place Raagini Rameshwar, student of Janet Ainsworth
  • Third Place Layla Siraj, student of Helena Vesterman

Open to students in grades 9, 10 and 11. Eligibility: Same requirements as the Alice Hamlet Competition above.

  1. 1-4 Above requirements for repertoire apply.
  2. Required contemporary piece:  “Twilight” from the 2nd Book of Preludes by Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee (Published by FJH) - memory optional.

First Prize: $350; Second, $250; Third, $100.

Please note: PREVIOUS FIRST PLACE WINNERS ARE INELIGIBLE FOR THE SAME COMPETITION.

A. Ramon Rivera Contemporary Music Awards

Congratulations go to the following winners of the best performance of the required contemporary piece:

  • Alice Hamlet Competition, Michael Suo, student of Natalia Harlap
  • Ruth Davidson Competition, Yoko Fukumura, student of Clara Slater

For the best performance of the required contemporary piece:

  • Alice Hamlet Competition: $100
  • Ruth Davidson Competition: $75

Mildred Freiberg Middle School Competition

Congratulations go to the following winners of the Mildred Freiberg Middle School Competition held on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at M. Steinert and Sons in Boston adjudicated by Robert D. Levin, Eileen Hutchins, and Max Levinson:

  • First Place Angelique Scully, student of Tanya Schwartzman
  • Second Place Daniel Shaar, student of  Natalia Harlap
  • Third Place Rick Jeet Gangopadhyay, student of Eleanor McLaughlin

Open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8. One entrant per teacher. Eligibility: Entrant must have studied piano since September of the current academic year with a member of NEPTA in good standing (dues received by Sept 30th ) and must play in a recital of the current year as follows:

  • Grade 6: Junior, Intermediate I or 20th/21st Century
  • Grade 7: Intermediate I or 20th /21st Century
  • Grade 8: Intermediate I, Intermediate II or 20th/21st Century

Repertoire requirements: Four pieces, one from each of the four traditional periods (Baroque; Classical; Romantic; Contemporary), all by memory.

First Prize, $150; Second, $125; Third, $100.

ALL COMPETITION WINNERS ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM IN A RECITAL ON MONDAY MORNING, MAY 23, 2011 AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF NEPTA, The FIRST PARISH OF WATERTOWN, 35 CHURCH ST, WATERTOWN. PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED AT THAT TIME.

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