Posted - Schedule of Meetings, Recitals and Competition for 2015-2016

In our pages section you can find the following information.  Please mark in your calendar.

2015-16 CALENDAR:

Meetings:

Sep. 9​  Meet & Greet and Spring Festival Music​ - Frank & Camille’s
Oct 7​    Dalcroze Workshop (Deede Cook)​ ​- Selden Library
​Nov. 4​   Pedagogical Ideas and Strategies​ ​- Music & Arts
​Dec. 2​  Teaching Expression & Technique to Young Children (Marina Obukovsky)​ - ​Faust      Harrison
​Jan. 6​  Healthy Mind and Body Awareness​ - Selden Library

Feb. 3​  The “Gift” of Music​ - Fred B.’s home
​Mar. 2​  Leading Students to the Piano OR Preparing Students’ Ears for Contemporary Music​ - TBA

​Apr. 2​  Baroque Dance Workshop​ ​(Denise Celestin) - TBA

Apr. 6​  Nominations and Questions in a Hat​ - Music & Arts
May 4 ​ Elections and Planning Meeting​ - Selden Lib.
June 1​ Voting for Programs and PotLuck Luncheon​ - Terry B.'s home

Recitals:

Creative Showcase I​              Saturday Nov. 21

Creative Showcase II​             Saturday Jan. 30

Formal Recital                        Saturday ​Feb. 27

Festival Recital​                       Saturday April 16

Honors Recital​                        Thursday June 2 (tentative)

Competition:

Saturday and Sunday             March 19 - 20 (tentative)

Message from our New President

Dear SPTF Colleagues,

Greetings and welcome back to another school year of music making and developing our abilities as teachers! Thank you to Johanna Kosak for her excellent leadership and years of service for SPTF. It is my privilege to succeed her in the office of president.

We have a full slate of interesting meeting topics lined up (see below), including 3 guest presenters and valuable contributions from our own members. We look forward to seeing all of our members this year - YOU are what makes this organization tick!

Start perusing your shelves for Spring Festival music to share at our first meeting - our theme is "Music Around the World: East, West and Back Again". Bring your scores, $35 membership dues and maybe a friend or two!

See you at Frank and Camille's on Wednesday, September 9 at 10:00 A.M.!

Musically yours,

Esther Chung Marks

SPTF President

SPTF Scholarship Recipient for Outstanding Pianist at Stony Brook University

Her name is Ko-Eun Yi.  She played Chopin Scherzo in b minor on the second festival recital.

Congratulations, Ko-Eun!

Snapshots from last months masterclass/meeting

Dear colleagues,

I hope you got to attend April's meeting.  We were treated to some lovely ideas about pieces we too often teach.


Here are some snapshots of the action at Steinway Gallery:

Wen Ling Cheng  is teaching adult student of Esther Chung Marks, Margaret Clarkson, and

Evelyn Ulex is teaching adult student of Johanna Kosak, Patrick Reyes.

Results of this year's competition

Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation 10th Annual Competition March 28 and March 29, 2015

Official Results

Congratulations to all students, parents, and teachers!  The judges have made their final determinations.

Please note.

• Results are final.  
• All 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners must attend the Awards Ceremony held between the Honors Recitals to receive their awards and prizes. Recipients must arrive by 6:00 p.m.
• Honors Recitals will be held on Thursday June 4, 2015 at 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm at Staller Center Recital Hall, Stony Brook University. First Place winners are expected to perform their winning pieces at one of the Honors Recitals. There is no Honors Recital registration fee for first place winners.

Elementary Division (100s)

First Place #101 – Tom Liu

2nd Grader at The Mills Pond Elementary School in Saint James

Variations on a Russian Theme by I. Berkovich

Second Place  #108 – Mark Griffin

6th Grader at JFK Middle School in Port Jefferson Station

The Wild West by T. Brown

Third Place  # 110 – Maxim Pustovoit

4th Grader at Minnesauke Elementary School in Setauket

Aeolian Harp by W. Gillock

Early Intermediate Division (200s)

First Place #210 – Antonia Pavek

5th Grader at Tecumseh Elementary School in Farmingville

Doll's Dream Op. 202, No. 4 in C by T. Oesten

Second Place #209 – Zoe Marks

4th Grader at Boyle Road Elementary School in Port Jefferson Station

Scherzino Op. 21, No. 6 in A by G. Karganov

Third Place # 213 – Yuan Yuan Long

3rd Grader at Cantiague Elementary School in Jericho

Tokyo Twilight by M. Bober

Late Intermediate Division (300s)

First Place #315 – Dorothy Pierre

8th Grader at Smithtown Christian School in Smithtown

Tarantella by A. Pieczonka

Second Place # 314 – Grace Lim

5th Grader at Northside Elementary School in Levittown

Soliloquy by T. Brown

Third Place #303 – Katerina Reich

6th Grader at Hampton Bays Middle School in Hampton Bays

Sonata Op. 49, No. 1 in Gm, First Mvmt.

Early Advanced Division (400s)

First Place #403 – Karen Xie

7th Grader at R.C. Murphy Junior High School in Stony Brook

The Cat and the Mouse by A. Copland

Second Place # 409 – Gabrielle Lim

6th Grader at W.T. Clarke Middle School in Westbury

Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2, in Eb by F. Chopin

Third Place # 404 – Maya Hasegawa

7th Grader at Longwood Junior High School in Middle Island

Arabesque No. 1 in E by C. Debussy

Late Advanced Division (500s)

First Place - #505 – Kevin Cao

10th Grader at Commack High School in Commack

Ballade Op. 23 in Gm by F. Chopin

Second Place - #511 – Theo Marks

10th Grader at Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station

Tres danzas argentinas Op.2: Danza del gaucho matrero by A. Ginastera

Third Place - #513 – Song Ying Xie

8th Grader at R.C. Murphy Junior High School in Stony Brook

Liebestraum Op. 62, No. 3 in Ab by F. Liszt

Thank you letter from one of the judges of this year's competition

Dear SPTF Teachers,

Thank you for inviting me to adjudicate the competition on March 28th. I was very impressed with your organization and the way that the competition was running.

The students all played their best and with their hearts out front.  In my opinion, this is the most important thing to help them to do - to love what they are playing.  Congratulations to each of you who had a student involved in this day.  

Also, it is impressive that you have formed this group of teachers on a volunteer basis.  It shows your commitment to the profession and the art of teaching.  

Have a wonderful spring season,

Marjean Olson

Upcoming weekend of music making at Smith Haven Mall

By Dan Fogel


There is an extraordinary and unprecedented event happening inside the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove this weekend (Tomorrow and Sunday). Steinway Piano Gallery (in Melville, via manager Barry Tognolini) has coordinated having a Steinway D 9­ft Concert Grand Piano in the center port of Smith Haven Mall (where the 2 shopping lanes meet), next to the Easter Bunny! Selections during the weekend will include  classical piano masterpieces, some video game music and popular hits from musicals, standards, etc. I cannot remember in my lifetime ever seeing such a high ­end piano right in the middle of such a public area. Nontraditional to say the least!

Preselected local piano teachers throughout Long Island, their advanced students, and some professional pianists will be performing for passersby at the following days and times:

We invite you all to come a listen to a variety of performers including professional pianists and advanced piano students.  The event will take place on Saturday, March 21 from  1pm - ­4:30pm and on Sunday, Marc 22 from 12:30­ - 4:30pm.  The event is free.
This will be a special treat for all who witness this, and a great honor for the performers.






Weekend Schedule 

Saturday, March 21


1­:00 - 1:30 - Esther Chung Marks (of Port Jefferson Station) and her students 
1:30­ - 3:00  - Dan Fogel (of Centereach) and his students
3:00 - 3:30 -  Tamara Slobodkin's (of Setuaket) Students
3:30 - 4:30 - Guy Slapak, (a doctoral candidate at Stony Brook University) 


Sunday, March 22, 


12:30 - ­2:15 Michael Bulychev­-Okser's students
2:15­ - 3:00 Joe Graziose's (of North Babylon) students
3:00 - ­4:30 Rowena Arrieta's (of Rocky Point) students




Just a sample of some of the music you may hear:


Dan Fogel's students will be playing many selections including:
Clair de lune by Debussy
Waltz in c#m by Chopin
Fantasy in dm by Mozart
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair by Debussy

Fur Elise by Beethoven

Moonlight Sonata 1st mvt by Beethoven 
Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin
Hymne by Poulenc
a Muczynski prelude

Students: Charles, WIlliam, Nicolle, Catherine, Abigail, and Eugene who is visiting from Ithaca)


Dan Fogel will be playing
pieces by Chopin, Debussy, and other classical composers Video Game Pieces from Zelda, Mario, and Final Fantasy some popular hits from musicals, standards, etc.


Esther Chung Marks' students will be performing:
Berkovich Variations on a Russian Folk Song Beethoven Sonata Opus 49 No. 1 in G minor Mozart Sonata K. 331 in A major
Karganov Scherzino in A major Rachmaninoff Valse (trio for 6­hands)

Students: Tom, Gabriel, Zoe. Dan Fogel will join Zoe and Esther on the trio. 
Esther will play a selection or two.


Joseph Graziose's students will play:
Claire de Lune
Moszkowski Etude in Gm,
Pathetique Sonata
Bach Inv.
Gillock Jazz,
Fantasie­Impromptu,
Maple Leaf Rag,
Duet­ All American Hometown Band by Noona

Students: Jarrad, Atom, and Nishant 


Tamara Slobodkin's students will play:
1st arabesque ­ Debussy Scarlatti Sonata in D
Doll's Dream ­ Oesten Temple Dancers ­ Noona 

Students: Maya and Ammella 

Announcement of Judges for This Year's Competition March 28 - 29, 2015

Dear teachers,

 

On Saturday, March 28, the Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation annual piano competition will be taking place at Steinway Gallery . 505 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, Ny from Noon - 5 pm and on Sunday, March 29, at Faust Harrison Pianos, 277 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747.   We have a nice line up of judges and they are excited to be judging at our competition!

Below is some information about our  judges for this year's piano competition.

• Marjean Olson, teacher and pianist in New York City, is emerging as one of the most unique voices of her time. Marjean has devoted much of her life to educating people in the art of piano pedagogy. Dr. Olson has enjoyed teaching at The Manhattan School of Music for over a decade where she is currently the Assistant Dean of Academics and the Director of Keyboard Skills. Olson develops curriculum, supervises teaching fellows, and leads a doctoral seminar entitled Teaching Piano in Higher Education. She also teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in piano pedagogy and keyboard skills. She has taught and mentored pianist-teachers who enjoy international careers.
• Originally from North Dakota, Olson began her musical studies at the age of two with her oldest sister Janet Johansen as instructor. She went on to study with David Worth at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN where she obtained a Bachelors of Music degree. Olson completed her graduate work at The University of Michigan under Arthur Greene where she received a Doctor of Musical Arts.  

• Nelson Ojeda Valdés (pianist) has been a soloist with the Southeast Symphony playing Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto in C Minor, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra playing Saint-Saens “Carnival of the Animals” and California State University Fullerton Wind Ensemble playing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” on a tour of Japan. His solo recitals include Debussy’s 150th Anniversary at Symphony Space in New York City, the concert series at St. John the Divine (NYC), Steinway Hall in Los Angeles and Fundación Juan March (Madrid,Spain). He recently performed at the Earle Voorhies Memorial Concert in Meng Hall at California State University, Fullerton. His chamber concerts include a recital with pianist Hyangmee Kim at Yon Sei University in Seoul, Korea, a duo piano recital of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert at the Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt (Austria), a concert of American composers in Alcalá de Henares (Spain), a tour playing Stravinsky’s two piano version of Rite of Spring with Susan Svrcek in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the work’s premiere and Brahms Quintet Opus 34 with Cuarteto Assai broadcast live on RTVE Spanish Radio.  Mr. Ojeda has premiered works by composers Tom Lidell and David Meckler at Voces Novae New Music Festival and works by Carlos Carillo and Desmar Guevara at Pregones Theate in the Bronx, NY and at MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana) in San José, California. He is featured in the recordings of composers Greg Lawrence and Paul Bailey.  His solo album “España” has been released under the label Louis Ferdinand Productions. 

• Nelson Ojeda Valdés holds degrees from California State University, Fullerton and Manhattan School of Music with additional studies at the Juilliard School and Mannes College of Music. His primary teachers have been Earl Voorhies, Susan Svrcek and Constance Keene. Mr. Ojeda has been on the faculty at Mt. San Antonio College, Rio Hondo College and Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts and has taught masterclasses at CAMDA (California Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts), Escuela de Música Adora Calvo (Madrid, Spain) and Pasadena Conservatory. For more information please visit www.nelsonojeda.com

• Lisa Kim came to America as a recipient of the Kresge International Scholarship to study piano at Interlochen, Michigan in 1963.
• She continued her piano studies with the legendary Sascha Goridnitzki at the Juilliard School where she received Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music.
• Her solo, orchestral and chamber music performances included a live full length recital on WQXR and the world premier of the Ross Lee Finney's Piano Trio at the congregation of the Arts at Dartmouth College.
• She has devoted the past 40 years in private piano teaching where her former and present students include winners of the Van Cilburn International competition, the Stravinsky International Piano Competition, Philadelphia orchestra student competition, the Juilliard concerto competition, Long Island Philharmonic Young Artist competition, Suffolk Music Guild competition, Sound Symphony solo competition and NYSSMA All State Piano Showcase.
• She served as director of Instrumental Music at the Stony Brook School until her retirement in 2010, co-directed the Grazioso Music Institute in Switzerland, England and Austria and served as a judge for the National Guild of Piano Teachers Auditions.

•      World-renowned pianist Jörg Demus often referred to her as “the silent giant” and “richly gifted.” Since her studies in his home in Gastof, Austria, Stephanie D. Watt , pianist, has become one of the most sought-after performers/teachers in the Long Island and metropolitan New York areas.  She received degrees in performance, composition, and computer science from Long Island University and also studied extensively at the Vienna and Haydn Conservatories with Jörg Demus, Hans Kann, Marialena Fernandez and Paul Badura Skoda.  As a soloist, collaborative and chamber artist, she has performed in major concert halls throughout the U.S. and in five continents with renowned organizations such as the Kennedy Chamber Players, Long Island Philharmonic and Masterworks choruses; Camerata Pro Musica of Hungary; Leo Duo, Melete; Communidad de Palermo Symphony Orchestra; Musica Viva of New York and many others. 
•      She has been hailed as a “Master Artist” in Vas Nepe, Hungary; “Unanimous!...” in Strings Magazine and “…consistently marked with warmth, verve, and excitement: in the Lynbrook Express.  In 2013 she received an Honorary Degree from the renowned National Academy of Tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she will return in May 2015 to perform as a soloist and conduct an educational tour with her students. She is the founder/director of the EASTWEST Conservatory of Performing and Meditation Arts.  Her discography includes the prized Duo for Cello & Piano written by noted composer, Allen Brings released on Capstone Records. Her biography has been published in the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Women, and Who’s Who in the World. She is Professor of Music, Director of Piano and Theory Studies and has also served as Chair of the Department of Music at LIU Post.

News from the studio of Esther Marks - Results of the Concert Festival International Competition 2015

It is with great pleasure that I would like to share some exciting news!

All 9 of my students who auditioned for the Concert Festival International Competition earlier this month were chosen as prize winners!  

They were selected from over 300 piano, string, wind and vocal students ages 5 - 25 who auditioned live, via YouTube and by DVD from all over the world for the opportunity to perform on the stages of the finest concert halls in the world!

Please join me in congratulating the following students:

Grand Prix Winners

(Performance in Carnegie Hall; select students received a $500 scholarship towards the summer tour in Portugal, and all 3 were recipients):
Tom Liu, age 7
Zoe Marks, age 9
Rebecca Nelsen, age 12

First Prize Winners
(Performance in Lincoln Center):
EJ Zoe Arturo, age 10
Rebecca Nelsen, age 12 and Francine Leung, age 13 (duet)

Second Prize Winners
(Performance in Symphony Space):
Tom Liu, age 7
Antonia Pavek, age 10
Francine Leung, age 13

Third Prize Winners 
(Performance in Engelman Recital Hall)
Shirley Xiong, age 7
Robin Xiong, age 10
Gabriel Downs, age 18

These students worked very hard and I am very proud of their effort, as well as this wonderful and exciting achievement. They will be performing in March and April.