Festival For Creative Pianists

RESULTS OF THE 2017 FESTIVAL FOR CREATIVE PIANISTS

Thirty-nine young pianists from Colorado (Bow Mar, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Denver, Elizabeth, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Morrison, and Pine) competed in the 2017 Festival for Creative Pianists on June 7-10 at Classic Pianos and the Wash Park Center for Music and Arts in Denver, CO.

Three renowned judges adjudicated for the festival: Dr. John Salmon, Wynn-Anne Rossi and Dr. Kevin Olson.

The festival included highly engaging presentations by all three judges, one-on-one student sessions with clinicians ( Lori Frazer and Martha Hill Duncan), and workshops by Martha Hill Duncan ("When the Piano Sings"), Dr. Arthur Houle ("Clementi's Sonatinas, Op. 36 'With Considerable Improvements'"), Maria Ali ("Music and American Sign Language"), Lori Frazer (Clavinova Presentation) and Feldenkrais® Practitioner Bethany Cob.

Student Award Highlights

Two of the four Best Original Written Composition Finalists were honored as "Best of the Best." Their compositions have been selected for web posting by Abundant Silence Their compositions have been selected for web posting by Abundant Silence:

• Maria Evans: "Nostalgia" (voice and piano)
• Desi Silverman-Joseph: "Fisherman's Dance" (piano solo)

Special kudos to Samantha Ng, age 13, and James Algermissen, age 11, who each won a total of FOUR First prizes:

Samantha Ng
• ARTIST PIANIST AWARD (1 of 2 awards in this category; also given to Sophie Brants)
• BEST PERFORMANCE OF A PRE-BAROQUE OR BAROQUE PERIOD WORK
• Best Performance of a Contemporary work
• BEST PIANIST STUDYING WITH A DAMTA MEMBER

James Algermissen
• BEST DEMONSTRATION OF GENUINELY SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISATION IN ANY STYLE (PIANO ENSEMBLE)
• Best Performance of a Work for 4 or More hands
• MOST VERSATILE PIANIST
• BEST DEMONSTRATION OF SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION JAZZ, POP, GOSPEL OR RAG

Sophie Brants and Desi Silverman-Joseph, both age 12, also distinguished themselves by scooping THREE prizes:

Sophie Brants
• ARTIST PIANIST AWARD (1 of 2 awards in this category; also given to Samantha Ng)
• Best Performance of a Romantic Period Work
• BEST PIANIST STUDYING WITH A CMTA MEMBER

Desi Silverman-Joseph
• BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CLASSICAL PERIOD WORK
• MOST CREATIVE PIANIST (split award; also given to Maria Ali)
• FINALIST: BEST ORIGINAL WRITTEN COMPOSITION (SELECTED FOR WEB POSTING)

Other top awardees included:

• Dual prizewinners Maria Ali (age 19), Maria Evans (age 15), Zachary Freeman (age 14), Charlie Graham (age 15), Jacob Hon (age 16), and Heather Hunt (age 13).

Complete List of 2017 Prizes Awarded

Best Performance of a Pre-Baroque or Baroque Period Work
Samantha Ng, age 13, (teacher: Valerie Mishek)

Best Performance of a Classical Period Work
Desi Silverman-Joseph, age 12 (teacher: Joyce Li)

Best Performance of a Romantic Period Work
Sophie Brants, age 12 (teacher: Joyce Li)

Best Performance of a Work by an Impressionist Composer
Cole Barringer, age 18 (teacher: Istvan Hornyak)

Best Performance of a Contemporary Work
Samantha Ng, age 13, (teacher: Valerie Mishek)

Best Performance of a Work Written or Edited by John Salmon, Kevin Olson or Wynn-Anne Rossi (split award)
Andrew Mazurek, age 11, (teacher: Sheila Hamaker)
Elia Muncey, age 13 (teacher: Jodie Jensen)

Best Performance of a Composition in any Style by a Female Composer
Maria Evans, age 15 (teacher: Deborah Turnbull)

Best Performance of a Composition in any Style by Marjorie Burgess
Sonja Bennion, age 9 (teacher: Janet Ali)

Best Performance of any Piano Solo Work Published by Abundant Silence
Jacob Hon, age 16 (teacher: Bonnie Early)

Best Performance of any Chamber Work Published by Abundant Silence
[No contenders, not awarded]

Best Performance of One or More Movements of Clementi's Op. 36 (Houle edition, publ. by Abundant Silence)
Heather Hunt, age 13 (teacher: Karen Greenhalgh)

Best Performance of a Lyrical and Predominantly Slow Work
Samantha Johnson, age 16 (teacher: Kellie Johannik)

Best Pianist Studying with a DAMTA Member
Samantha Ng, age 13 (teacher: Valerie Mishek)

Best Pianist Studying with a CMTA Member
Sophie Brants, age 12 (teacher: Joyce Li)

Artist Pianist Award (two awards in this category)
Samantha Ng, age 13, (teacher: Valerie Mishek)
Sophie Brants, age 12 (teacher: Joyce Li)

Piano Ensemble Award for Best Performance of a Work for 4 or More hands
James Algermissen, age 11 (teacher: Kellie Johannik)

Most Versatile Pianist
James Algermissen, age 11 (teacher: Kellie Johannik)

Most Creative Pianist (split prize)
Maria Ali, age 19 (teacher: Janet Ali)
Desi Silverman-Joseph, age 12 (teacher: Joyce Li)

Best Demonstration of Embellishing and/or Improvising in a Classical Work
Connor Watz, age 16 (teacher: Heather Woll)

Best Demonstration of a Concerto Movement Featuring the Performer's Own Original Cadenza(s) and/or Lead-in(s)
[No contenders, not awarded - two awards in the "Artist Pianist" category given instead]

Best Demonstration of Genuinely Spontaneous Improvisation in any Style (solo piano)
Mason Marcy, age 12 (teacher: Jodie Jensen)

Best Demonstration of Genuinely Spontaneous Improvisation in any Style (piano ensemble)
James Algermissen, age 11 (teacher: Kellie Johannik)

Best Demonstration of Spontaneity and/or Improvisation Playing from a Lead Sheet
Eva Bennion, age 12 (teacher: Janet Ali)

Best Demonstration of Spontaneity and/or Improvisation in a Jazz, Pop, Gospel or Rag Style Work
James Algermissen, age 11 (teacher: Kellie Johannik)

Best Performance of a Cowboy Jazz Selection
Heather Hunt, age 13 (teacher: Karen Greenhalgh)

Best Composition Written and Performed by the Contestant
Zachary Freeman, age 14 (teacher: Bonnie Early)

Best Composition in a Selected Style or Genre Written and Performed by the Contestant
[No contenders, not awarded]

Best Composition by a Budding Young Composer (age 12 or under)
Kenneth Fleenor, age 6 (teacher: Janet Ali)

Best Performance of a Tasteful Transcription or Arrangement for Piano Solo or for 4 or More Hands
Kira Waite, age 17 (teacher: Kellie Johannik)

Best Performance of an Original Tasteful Transcription or Arrangement for Piano Solo or for 4 or More Hands
Maria Ali, age 19 (teacher: Janet Ali)

Best Original Written Composition Finalists
Maria Evans, age 15, "Nostalgia" for voice and piano (teacher: Deborah Turnbull)
Desi Silverman-Joseph, age 12, "Fisherman's Dance" for piano solo (teacher: Joyce Li)
Charlie Graham, age 15, "Angenehm" for piano solo (teacher: Laura Rogers)
Jacob Hon, age 16, "Dreams" for piano solo (teacher: Bonnie Early)

Free Finale Music Notation Program (generously donated by MakeMusic, Inc.)
Zachary Freeman, age 14 (teacher: Bonnie Early)
Ashley Morris, age 14 (teacher: Bonnie Early)

Honorable Mentions
Ian Andrews, age 14 (teacher: Kellie Johannik)
Charlie Graham, age 15 (teacher: Laura Rogers)
Lilly Meyer, age 17 (teacher: Kellie Johannik)

Creative Teaching Incentive Awards
The judges and directors commend all the teachers for their outstanding work!
Two especially stellar teachers were recognized for "fostering creativity, imagination, versatility and/or originality" in students:
Janet Ali
Kellie Johannik