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 Competition for Seniors
March 29 , 2009 (Application postmark: March 2, 2009)

2008 Winners:

  1. Wei-Liang Kung (student of Natalia Harlap)
  2. Ariel Borensztein (student of Clara Slater)
  3. Simon Xu (student of Helena Vesterman)

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: Hommage à Fauré from Hommages by Robert Helps (Peters No. 66525) - memory optional

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

Ruth Davidson Competition
March 29 , 2009 (Application postmark: March 2, 2009)

2008 Winners

  1. Juliana Chalsen (student of Sylvia Chambless)
  2. Elan Sonnenschein Wong (student of Nilly Shilo)
  3. Jessica Rucinski (student of Margaret Bachelder)

Honorable Mention Jo Hee An (student of Natalia Harlap)

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: La Muerta del Angel from Angel by Astor Piazzolla (Tonos) - 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

2008 Winners:

Alice Hamlet Competition: Wei-Liang Kung
Ruth Davidson Competition: Elan Sonnenschein Wong

For the best performance of the required contemporary piece:

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

Mildred Freiberg Middle School Competition
March 22, 2009 (Application postmark: February 23, 2009)

2008 Winners:

  1. Brian Li (student of Nilly Shilo)
  2. Yoko Ellie Fukumura (student of Helena Vesterman)
  3. Ellen Liu (student of Lina Yen)

Honorable Mention:

Eric Chiang ( student of Ruth Shyu )
Cameron Stewart ( student of Lyubov Shlain )

Open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8. One entrant per teacher.

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 20 th /21 st 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 WINNERS ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM IN A RECITAL ON MONDAY MORNING, MAY 18, 2009 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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