Registration is closed for the 10th Annual Piano Competition

Dear colleagues,

The competition application deadline is now past.  Many teachers and students have applied and are working hard on their pieces for the competition.  Thank you, teachers for getting the information online and sending your checks on time.


Sincerely,

Ellen Johansen
Competition Committee Chair

PR for a performer at Lang Lang's Master Class - all our students need this in their lives

http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/Eastport/90551/ESM-Pianist-Joins-Lang-Lang-For-Master-Class

ESM Pianist Joins Lang Lang For Master Class

Publication: The Southampton Press

By Alexa Gorman   Dec 9, 2014 9:06 AM
 Dec 10, 2014 11:23 AM

Rebecca Nelsen already knows how far a career as a musician can take her.The 12-year-old has been playing the piano since she was 4, and has plans to study at The Juilliard School in Manhattan after she graduates from Eastport South Manor Junior-Senior High School in 2020.

“I like playing on stage and in front of big crowds,” she said during a recent interview, noting that she also plays the oboe in the school’s pep band. She has played the oboe for four years.

Rebecca has always been surrounded by musicians in her Manorville home. Both of her parents, Karen and Grant, play piano. Her mother also plays the flute. Her twin brother, Ryan, is a rising percussionist at ESM as well.

Growing up in a musical home, Rebecca quickly fell in love with the art, and all of the ups and downs that go along with perfecting an instrument. Her piano teacher, Esther Chung-Marks, who teaches out of her home in Port Jefferson Station, said Rebecca’s natural talent and passion shines through.

“She is innately very musical, and she really feels the emotion in the music that she plays,” said Ms. Marks, who has been working with Rebecca for the past five years. “She really is an ideal student.”

Last month, Rebecca performed alongside 99 piano students her age, and took direction from Lang Lang, a Chinese concert pianist who has performed with leading orchestras on three continents, including in the United States. He also happens to be one of her musical idols.

“He was more fun and easy-going than I thought,” she said of the internationally known pianist. “I thought he’d come out in a tux to teach the master class.”

Ms. Marks sent seven students to audition for the Lang Lang 101 Pianists program offered by the Lang Lang Foundation. All seven were accepted and performed in October at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at Long Island University Post in Greenvale.

The students took a master class, worked with Lang Lang and performed for an audience all in one day. Lang Lang—who has played at venues ranging from the 2014 World Cup in Rio to the Grammy Awards where he played alongside Metallica to the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing—hosts educational programs, including 101 Pianists, for young artists around the world through his foundation.

Thousands auditioned over the summer for the opportunity to participate in the fall program.

“He really focused on our sound,” Rebecca recalled. “I learned to play loud when in front of a large audience, but to make sure the sound stays crisp.”

Rebecca said that staying consistent and practicing daily is not a problem for her because she’s been dedicated to the piano, and now the oboe, for so long. She prefers the romantic composers, with the Polish composer Frederic Chopin being her favorite.

Ms. Marks has seen Rebecca’s taste for the classic composers evolve through the years, but noted that her student’s heart lies in the romantic period.

“I like his style and how he puts the different dynamic of notes together,” Rebecca said of the 19th century artist.

Rebecca notes that she practices daily at home, except for Wednesdays, when she spends time working with Ms. Marks.

“Anything she touches, she does well,” Ms. Marks said of her student. “She has a lot of dexterity and poise, and stage presence that’s always been with her.”

Rebecca said she hopes all of the practice will pay off when she’s applying to college and auditioning in the hopes of securing scholarship money.

“It really just shows that if people try hard, they can do anything,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll ever give up.”

Rebecca performed for the Eastport South Manor Board of Education at the end of November and was honored by Schools Superintendent Mark Nocero and Board President Kenneth Cooke.

“Absolutely phenomenal,” Mr. Nocero said following her performance in front of those in attendance. “I’m so proud of students like Rebecca, who show what drive and determination can really do.”

 

----------------------

Alexa Gorman

Reporter

Press News Group

agorman@pressnewsgroup.com

631-288-1100

203-725-7884

Link to the Repertoire List for the upcoming competition

Dear teachers,

I am sure you are all  considering what pieces will be best for your student to perform in this year's competition in late March.  Although you may have already chosen a special piece  for each student participating, you may be wondering what category this could or has already been play at.  A repertoire list has been created and continues to be updated year by year.   This list contains pieces performed in past years and tells you what level it was placed and the timing of the piece.  No, it doesn't say whether it was a winner, that's up to you to figure out.  And of course new pieces are added yearly. Our latest update includes new pieces recently submitted in preparation for the January deadline.

You can access this repertoire list here:

list of repertoire for the annual SPTF Competition



The repertoire committee

Updating the Newsletter pages - come and see

Dear colleagues,

The Newsletter can be a source for all your pertinent information related to the Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation.  No more searching through old emails for that competition application or the date and location of the next meeting.  Of course,  to keep this up to date, I need you feedback (like,  "Hey, Ellen, update the list of meetings!" or "Ellen, You spelled my name incorrectly").  Would you please take a moment and go through the pages and let me know if I left anything out?  You can also send happy comments to the blog.  Those are treasured by the blog maker.

Ellen
Virtual Newsletter creator

Student of Esther Marks receives recognition from her School's Board of Education

Congratulations to Rebecca Nelsen, 7th grade student of SPTF Vice President Esther Chung Marks, who was honored for her musical accomplishments on Nov. 19 at the Eastport School District Board of Education Meeting.  At the board’s request, she performed a solo, Debussy’s Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum, after which she received a standing ovation from the audience.  She is pictured here receiving a certificate from the BOE president and superintendent of schools.  It’s wonderful that the pursuit of musical excellence is recognized in our schools!  

Need some Lang Lang?

Lang Lang pre-show, Saturday, October 25, 7pm at Tilles Center Atrium Lobby

Lang Lang solo piano concert, Saturday, October 25, 8pm, Tilles Center

Lang Lang 101 Pianists Concert, Sunday October 26, 4pm, Tilles Center

Dear all teachers,

If anyone is looking for an entertainment this weekend, there is a Lang Lang 101 pianists concert at Tilles Center. Our SPTF teachers' students are participating. Below link is to Newsday article about it. For tickets, contact Tilles Center Box office.

Click here to read the Newsday article

SPTF Teachers who have students participating in Lang Lang 101 Pianists concert are;

Esther Chung Marks

Lawrence Schubert

Evelyn Ulex

Helen Ferrara

Frances Hanlon

Johanna Kosak

Ellen Johansen

Wen Ling Cheng

Kathy Lee

Vilma Barsauskene

At the Pre-show, Kevin Cao and Francis Leung (students of Lawrence Schubert and Esther Chung Marks) will be among two of five students who will be performing wonderful solo pieces as they are selected as an honorable mention at the audition for the soloist spot. Congratulations to them as well.

Some of non-SPTF teachers such as Miyoko Lotto, Nevart Zeronian, Dr. Pablo Lavandara, Dr. Simon Li and other great 49 teachers' students are participating as one of 100 piano players at this event.

I personally am very much honored to have been a program coordinator and working as a lead teacher along with prof. Stephanie Watt. This is a great and exciting events for 100 students to perform two duet pieces together with Lang Lang. Come and join us.

Piano Party this weekend - All invited

 SUNDAY/OCTOBER 12, 2014 at 3:00 pm

010 NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING

HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

From the Studio of Blanche Abram

ELLEN JOHANSEN + STUART LUCKS

John Corigliano - Etude Fantasy

Gabriel Fauré - Nocturne Opus 33 No. 1 in e flat minor

Franz Liszt - Trois Etudes de Concert

              Franz Liszt - transcriptions of Schubert Songs and

        transcription of Bach’s Organ Prelude & Fugue in A minor

Great Music

And

Light refreshments

 FREE ADMISSION!