The Festival for Creative Pianists
Representative Sample of Comments
re: The International Festival for Creative Pianists
June 12, 2002
Dear Dr. Houle:
...What you are attempting to do in your festival is most laudable, especially in eliminating as much as possible the "winner take all" dynamic, and encouraging improvisation in both jazz and classical music.Yours sincerely,
Dave Brubeck,
Renowned composer & jazz artist
Wilton, CT
10/30/00
Dear Art,
...there are new directions being dared by a few hardy souls such as you, with more creative ideas -- new ideas...about how to prepare pianists for being full and rich human beings (not just automatons and wizards).Marienne Uszler, Editor, Piano & Keyboard
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 6:14 PM
Subject: Great idea
Hello Arthur,
Your International Festival for Creative Pianists is a splendid idea! I especially like your inclusion of embellishing a classical work, featuring a work by a female composer, and, of course, best performance of a work by Chopin, as well as the other special awards.All the best,
Dr. Sandra Rosenblum
Noted musicologist, author of "Performance Practices in Classic Piano Music"
2/08/01
Dear Arthur: What a great idea you have there. Congratulations.
Dr. Stewart Gordon
Professor & Chair of Keyboard Studies, University of Southern California
Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2002 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: Congratulations
Dr. Malcolm Bilson
Professor of Music, Cornell University, & renowned recording artist
Letter to Dr. Alan Brinton, Dean & Vice President for Academic Affairs, Albertson College:
Dear Dean Brinton:
It was my pleasure to participate (as judge, panelist, and pianist) in last weekend’s International Festival for Creative Pianists on the Albertson College of Idaho campus. I enjoyed every moment -- getting to hear some fabulous teenage pianists, talking with them and their parents, making new friends with my co-judges.From my perspective, the whole event was beautifully organized and, perhaps more importantly, so innovatively conceived (to reward aspects of pianism often overlooked in today’s music competitions such as lyricism and originality) that the festival stands out among all current piano competitions and festivals. It is truly unique!
Credit, of course, goes to Dr. Arthur Houle, brilliant and affable founder/director of this sui generis jewel. I remain profoundly impressed by his many gifts, which benefit so many people, especially young musicians. His work must be a source of pride for you and the entire Albertson College community.
Sincerely,
Dr. John Salmon (annual judge)
Professor of Piano
University of North Carolina-Greensboro
4/13/01
Hi Arthur,
Just wanted to say I think this new idea of yours for this type of competition (with many prizes for different aspects of playing--instead of just fast and accurate) is fabulous.Dr. Todd Wellbourne, Professor of piano University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sent: Monday, October 8, 2001 7:39 PM
Subject: Re: Intl. Festival
Dear Dr. Houle,
What a fantastic website you have and what terrific work you are doing...it's really exciting to see how you are challenging students.Congratulations on what you are doing. It's thrilling.
Gloria Lien
Chair, International Music Relations
National Federation of Music Clubs
10/29/01
Report to the College Music Society by the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Performance:
"Most schools and teachers still don't do an adequate job of addressing the goal of having students able to improvise...The annual International Festival for Creative Pianists, led by Arthur Houle (associate professor of piano at Albertson College of Idaho), provides an example for our discipline, awarding, among several other categories, a prize for 'best lead-in or original cadenza in a classical-era piece.'"April 1, 2003
Dear Arthur:
I hope your inspiring ideas will catch on with others. It’s good to shake things up - ...you are good at it.All the best,
Judy Nelson
Editor, Clavier
June 16, 2003
Dear Arthur:
We are writing to congratulate you on your highly successful International Festival for Creative Pianists. We were amazed and delighted to see such a range of talent congregated in Idaho. In addition to the musical excellence of the festival, we admire what was surely a logistical feast to carry it off. And, it was a stroke of genius to have the meeting of the Idaho Music Teachers Association dovetail with the festival.When you say "International," you really mean it! Renaud [our son, age 10] was certainly out of his league, yet his participation as a contestant brought him inspiration, motivation, performance experience, and a sense of community. The constructive comments from the adjudicators will be very helpful to us and to Renaud’s piano and string bass teachers in guiding his progress and encouraging his passion.
Darryl Schoenborn was especially helpful to Renaud during the digital creative session, engaging him at his level and helping him expand his horizons.
Thank you for your enthusiastic support of music students, music teachers, and music lovers!
Warm regards,
|
Dr. Teresa Boucher Chair & Associate Professor of Spanish Boise State University |
Dr. Will Browning Associate Professor of French & Spanish Boise State University |
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 12:20 PM
Subject: 2003 IFCP
Dear Professor Houle,
Just wanted to share with you how much we (Scott, his mom and I) appreciated the opportunity to be a part of the Festival. What a profound educational experience. Was so impressed by the standard of excellence displayed in every area. And the Winners! WOW! Each was well deserving. Their performances were phenomenal. I felt as if I were back in time observing the Masters at work. Very well organized rich cultural event. I am so very grateful to have met you and leant about your annual festival and I truly believe that as the years move along the IFCP will experience magnificent growth and major international acclaim.This was a great experience for Scott [my son] and has set him on fire to work harder paying much more attention to the details of guidance. The Judges comments were very encouraging. There is one thing that I observed about the participants that really made my heart sing with pride. Each one (prize winner or non-winner) was so happy to be a part of this event...because of the magnitude of leaning that took place.
Thanks again.
Elizabeth Fullington Piano teacher, Apopka, Florida.
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 8:18 PM
Subject: Re: competition
Hello Arthur,
You have one of the most unique competitions that I have ever been to.Sincerely,
B.J. Morton 1418 Crestview Dr Radcliff, KY 40160
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 8:44 AM
Subject: Re: notification to papers
Dear Arthur:
I just wanted you to know how much my students enjoyed the competition this year.You do an amazing job of organizing and recognizing young pianists. Thanks for all you do!
Dr. Susan Duehlmeier
Piano Area Chair, University of Utah
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 09:16:06 -0600
Subject: good festival
Dear Arthur,
I am writing to share our experience of your piano festival and let you know how meaningful it was for us. What you did changed our lives.My son [and I] attended several of the workshops, masterclasses, and concerts...[he] plays piano (intermediate level), cello, and flute and always enjoys picking up a new instrument, but his love is composing.
We learned so much at the festival last week. I can't begin to tell you. Antony got many ideas to use with improv and composing...And I did a lot of thinking of how to incorporate improv into piano for my younger children so they can start earlier. Other than private lessons, there are so few resources for musical creativity. This was such a glorious opportunity for us...You created an environment where the kids felt safe to explore and learn, both by just being welcoming and also with your humor (*very* important for pubescent boys).
We will be back. Antony will probably compete next year, and I will be back to learn more as a teacher.
Mia Crosthwaite, piano teacher
Boise, ID
Reply-To: dbwohl@comcast.net
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 14:51:59 -0600
Arthur,
I want to thank you for inviting me to participate in the festival. It was a great pleasure to reconnect with you and John Salmon, and to make new acquaintances from the piano world! I truly enjoyed myself with the students and teachers who attended. The performances by you, John, Matt and Chuck were excellent, and truly inspired me a great deal. Your jazz composition on Friday night was terrific fun and terrific music at the same time!
Dr. David Wohl,
Assistant Professor, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Clinician and recitalist for '04 festival
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 10:28:42 -0400
Subject: Re: Piano festival
Arthur-
Thank you for doing this magnificent festival and for including me, yet again. You have to feel gratified that these super-talented kids, not to mention their super-good-willed parents, realize the importance of what you are doing. What a cornucopia of riches was offered to them!Please count on me for whatever support/participation you can think up.
Fondly,
Dr. John Salmon
Professor of Piano, University of North Carolina-Greensboro
Judge, clinician and recitalist
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2004 18:05:24 -0500
Subject: Re: FYI - feature story on piano festival
Hello Arthur,
[Your festival] really gets to the heart of what music making is, or should be, all about. Congrats.
Peggy Otwell
Director of Educational Publications,
Hal Leonard Corporation ('04 festival contributor)