e-Piano Competition

One of the more interesting competition about is the internation e-piano competition.

During the Piano-e-Competition, participants will have the opportunity to perform on Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand pianos. What is unique about these instruments is that they are equipped with state-of-the-art Disklavier Pro recording technology. This system, which was pioneered by Yamaha, is the fusion of the acoustic piano and computer electronics and allows all solo rounds of the competition to be downloaded via MIDI to be enjoyed anywhere in the world.

The junior division of the competition is this year. The contestants selected are:

• Anna Denisova, Russia
• Frank Duepree, Germany
• Nansong Huang, China
• Arthur Khmara, Belarus
• Noa Leigh Kleisen, Holland
• David Yoshiaki Ko, Japan
• Julia Kociuban, Poland
• Vladimir Levitsky, Russia
• Tami Lin, Canada
• Jan Lisiecki, Canada
• Yuqing Damon Meng, China
• Osip Nikiforov, Russia
• Song Yang, China
• T. J. Keanu Tario, United States
• Reed Tetzloff, United States
• Andrew Wang, Canada
• Benjamin Woo, Canada
• Sijing Ye, China
• Hao Tian Tim Zhang, Canada

Website and details here.

Rubinstein International

Take note. The Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition gets underway this week.

The 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, one of the highlights of Israel's cultural scene, will start with a gala concert on March 8 and continue through to the finals on March 27 when a winner will be declared.

Read more here.

The competition website is located here.

Some familiar faces from the circuit are to be found among the competitors. Check the website for broadcast details and updates on their progress. Good luck to all!

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

According to this online quiz, I am a question mark.

Link.

Results.

You seek knowledge and insight in every form possible. You love learning.
And while you know a lot, you don't act like a know it all. You're open to learning you're wrong.

You ask a lot of questions, collect a lot of data, and always dig deep to find out more. You're naturally curious and inquisitive. You jump to ask a question when the opportunity arises.

Your friends see you as interesting, insightful, and thought provoking.
(But they're not always up for the intense inquisitions that you love!)

You excel in: Higher education

You get along best with: The Comma

Pianists and Bad Manners

I'd say this gets it just about right:

Elaborate arm waving and heaven-bound gazes, at any rate, seem to have become part of the conservatory curriculum, like accurate scales and counterpoint.....Responsible teachers ought to be beating these kinds of histrionics out of their students but are too often perpetrators themselves. One answer might be for conservatories to hire time-and-motion experts, professionals who could point out that the flailing arm, the bulging eye and the balletic upper torso are extraneous work in a business best devoted to doing the most with the least.

Let the beatings begin! More here.

One More Reason To Practice

We're all "safe" for now, but somebody is thinking about it.

Classical Idol

The José Iturbi Foundation today announced that The Second Annual José Iturbi International Music Competition, the contest with the largest cash bounty (more than $250,000) of any classical piano and singing competition worldwide, will take place again this summer June 16 - 21 at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall in Los Angeles. Applications for pianists and singers to compete in the weeklong competition that adds features of "American Idol" to the world of classical music may be completed and submitted online at www.joseiturbifoundation.org. April 15, 2008 is the application deadline.

No word on who plays the Simon Cowell part.

More info on the contest found here.

Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year

Congrats and Kudos !

Fionnuala Ward beat off competition from talented musicians across Northern Ireland to take the title in Comber at the weekend.

Deets.

Additions

Just added to the WTB list of Keyboard links is the website for the "British Harpsichord Society". Loads of information and mp3 audio files to check out. Pluck your way on over!

Link.

Our Man in the Recital Hall

Well one out of two isn't bad, eh?

Link

'bout the same here.

Evening

Walking the shore at evening, I hear nothing. Nothing but music.