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YOUNG PIANIST'S BEETHOVEN COMPETITION
February 28, 2009
Brochure for 2009 competition (pdf)
About Angela Hewitt, master teacher for 2009
Review of the 2005 masterclass
Finalists for 2009
(The three winners of the competition marked with *)
Jeannie Chen (Northridge): Op. 13;
*Fantee Jones (Roseville), Op. 53
Yoojung Kim (San Jose), Op. 31/3
*Alison Lee (Fremont): Op. 27/1
Clara Lee (Santa Barbara), Op. 22
*Amanda Wang (Palo Alto), Op. 90
ALTERNATE: Chrystal Liu (Palo Alto), Op. 2/2
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Theodora Martin (San Jose) Op. 31/2;
Ben-han Sung (Lakeview Terrace), Op. 31/2
Eike Hoffman (Irvine), Op. 14/1
Philosophy and Procedures
The Young Pianist's Beethoven competition was founded in 1987 by Celia Méndez, a San José private piano teacher, with the purpose of being an artistic learning experience, a pedagogical tool for California High School students in the process of understanding the interpretation of Beethoven's piano sonatas. Consistent with this purpose, the "prize" of the competition is participation in a master class given to the three finalists by an internationally renowned artist. Added awards are performing opportunities (such as the one offered in the past by the "Grand Piano" television program and presented by the Steinway Society The Bay Area) and a monetary prize, this last one having only an ancillary character.
In order to emphasize the artistic-pedagogical tenets of this competition, the focus has been diverted from the order of placement (first, second and third place) to the recognition of overall artistic merit by selecting three award winners to participate in the master class without assigning them first, second or third places.
The process of selection starts with a preliminary evaluation of the taped performances submitted by the contestants. From these taped performances a panel of judges selects six finalists to participate in the final competition held at San José State University's School of Music and Dance.
The elements that determine the selection of the students are: individuality of interpretation, communication on an emotional level, general musicality, and stylistic understanding. Great performances are always individual, thoughtful, and touch the spirit. Although technical mastery is a "must," it should be reiterated that the true aim of this competition is to encourage performances of Beethoven's sonatas which reflect unique personal expression and which are original within the context of broad stylistic performance traditions. It should always be kept in mind that (as confirmed by recent scholarship) Beethoven's playing "was oriented toward the goal of emotional expression."
In order to expand the participation of professional musicians in the activities of this event we request the cooperation of members of the California professional music associations as members of the committee or as adjudicators. An effort is also made to include in the final competition a judge who resides in Southern California.
It should be noted that the professional ethic and the standing in the musical community of the judges that have served in the YPB competitions have precluded any consideration in reaching their final decisions, other than their artistic convictions and the goals of the competition (judges do not have access to the programs distributed to the public during the finals). Great effort is made to control the factors that can guarantee the fairness of the procedures, such as assuring the anonymity of the contestant's teachers.
As expressed by Dr. Thomas Wendel, former president of the American Beethoven Society, "In an age in which young people are far less exposed to classical music than in past times, we believe that the YPB competition has ever greater relevance. Perhaps of all composers, it is Beethoven who can best help shape youthful ideals of truth, beauty, and intellectual integrity, qualities that particularly define the thirty-two piano sonatas."
MASTER TEACHERS FOR THE YPB COMPETITION
1st Competition (1987): Jörg Demus
2nd (1988): Alfred Kanwischer
3rd (1989): Richard Goode
4th (1990): Malcolm Bilson
5th (1991): Claude Frank
6th (1992): Garrick Ohlsson
7th (1993): Yefim Bronfman
8th (1994): Christopher O'Riley
9th (1995): Grant Johanessen
10th (1996): Steve Lubin
11th (1997): Daniel Pollack
12th (1998): John O'Conor
13th (1999): Seymour Lipkin
14th (2000): Robert Taub
15th (2001): Malcolm Bilson
16th (2002): Russell Sherman
17th (2003): Ian Hobson
18th (2004): Anton Kuerti
19th (2005): Charles Rosen
20th (2006): Menahem Pressler
21st (2007): John Perry
22nd (2008): Craig Sheppard
Eligibility
Open to all California residents attending high school (grades 9-12).
Past winners are not eligible to participate.
Repertory
1. J.S. Bach. Any prelude and fugue from the Well Tempered Clavier, books 1 or 2.
2. Beethoven. Any complete piano sonata from Opus 2, no. 1, to and including Opus 90, but excluding
49, nos. 1 and 2.
Application procedure
Application must include:
1. A completed official entry form.
2. A cassette tape or compact disc of the works chosen from the required repertory played by the applicant.
3. A non-refundable registration fee of $30, payable to the American Beethoven Society.
Awards
Three winners are selected from the six finalists. Each winner will perform in the master class with an internationally-known pianist and receive a monetary prize of $200.00. The other three finalists will each receive a $75 prize.
The 2008 Young Pianist's Beethoven Competition
Master Teacher: Craig Sheppard
Finalists (in order of performance)
Angela Hwang (Saratoga, CA): Sonata no. 3 in C Major, Opus 2, no. 3
Victoria Kwong (San José, CA): Sonata no. 7 in D Major, Opus 10, no. 2
Alison Lee (Fremont, CA): Sonata no. 15 in D Major, Opus 28 ("Pastorale")
Amanda Wang (Palo Alto, CA): Sonata no. 17 in D Minor, Opus 31, no. 2 ("Tempest")
Michael Delfin (Madera, CA): Sonata no. 21 in C Major, Opus 53 ("Waldstein")
Joy Kim (Irvine, CA): Sonata no. 27 in E Minor, Opus 90
Alternate: Andrew Hsu (Fremont, CA): Sonata no. 3 in C Major, Opus 2, no. 3
Honorable Mention: Emma Podlesnik (Palo Alto, CA): Sonata no. 23 in F
Minor, Opus 57 ("Appassionata")
Competition Finals: Sunday, February 17, 2008, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Master Class: Sunday, February 17, 2008: 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Winners: Michael Delfin, Angela Hwang, Victoria Kwong
The 2007 Young Pianist's Beethoven Competition
Master Teacher: John Perry
Finalists:
Ashley Hsu (Fremont, CA): Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a ("Les Adieux")
Connie Kim-Shen (La Crescenta, CA): Sonata ino. 21 n C Major, Opus 53 ("Waldstein")
David Y. Ko (Millbrae, CA); Sonata no. 27 in E Minor, Opus 90
Calvin Lee (Sunnyvale, CA): Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Opus 57 ("Appassionata")
Monica Qiu (Newbury Park, CA): Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a ("Les Adieux")
Tiffany Yu (San Jose, CA): Sonata no. 15 in D Major, Opus 28 ("Pastoral")
Alternate:
Mayumi Tsuchida (Mill Valley, CA); Sonata no. 21 in C Major, Opus 53 ("Waldstein")
Competition Finals: Sunday, April 15, 2007, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Master Class: Sunday, April 15, 2007: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Winners: Ashley Hsu, David Y. Ko, Tiffany Yu
THE 2006 YPB COMPETITION
Master Teacher: Menahem Pressler
Competition Finals: April 9, 2006, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Master Class: 2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m.
Finalists:
Christina Lee, a 9th grader at Saint Francis High School, played Sonata no. 2 in A Major, Opus 2, no. 2.
Yi-Ju Lai, a senior at Idyllwild Arts Academy, played Sonata no. 7 in D Major, Opus 10, no. 3
Vijay Venkatesh, a 9th grader at Dana Hills High School, played Sonata no. 8 in C Minor, Opus 13 (Pathétique)
Alison Lee, a 9th grader at Mission San José High School, played Sonata no. 18 in E-flat Major, Opus 31, no. 3
Juliann Ma, a junior at Albany High School, played Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Opus 57 (Appassionata)
Angela Lee, a senior at Upland High School, played Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a (Les Adieux)
Christina, Yi-Ju, and Vijay were selected as the winners and participated in the master class with Menahem Pressler
Committee:
Celia Méndez (Director), Ellen Tryba Chen and Emily Rhodes Lorraine (Co-chairs), Chia-Chi Chen, Horacio Mendez, Gwendoyln Mok, Golda Miller.
Judges for the Finals:
William Meredith (Director, Beethoven Center); Aiko Onishi (Emeritus, San José State University), Thomas Schulz (Stanford University)
Sponsors:
The Horace Dodge Endowment Fund; Arts Council Silicon Valley; Steinway Society of the Bay Area; Sherman Clay Piano-Max; Music, Music, Music; Music Village; World of Music; Celia Méndez, Jack Silveira, and the friends of Golda Miller.
For general information on the competition also contact
Celia Méndez 408-978-2212 or celiamendez@prodigy.net