NEW PALTZ — Jacob Flier Competition Gala on July 30 features Five Rising Stars
Considering their continuing success after winning the Jacob Flier Piano Competition at PianoSummer at New Paltz, “student” seems to be an inadequate word to describe the five pianists who will perform together in concert at the PianoSummer at New Paltz Jacob Flier Piano Competition Gala, on Saturday, July 30 at the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Michael Berkovsky, Alexander Beridze, Oxana Mikhailoff, Daria Rabotkina and Daniel Shleyenkov have each moved on to achieve national as well as international recognition.
From July 11 through August 5, the SUNY New Paltz campus is filled with exceptional concerts, recitals, lectures and master classes presented by some of the most talented pianists performing today. PianoSummer Institute and Festival, a program of the School of Fine & Performing, is an international summer program dedicated solely to piano music. It features an integrated approach to learning and performance under the artistic direction of master pianist and teacher Vladimir Feltsman (pictured).
Daria Rabotkina (first Flier winner, 1998) has competed in and won awards at several international competitions including the 2004 Montreal International Music Competition. Of her time at PianoSummer at New Paltz, Daria has this to say. “Being seventeen at the time allowed me to absorb as much musical knowledge as one could?. The experience led me to meet and collaborate with musicians such as Michael Tilson-Thomas and Valery Gergiev. [PianoSummer]…was the point from which all other musical activity in my life originated.”
The Russian-born American pianist Oxana Mikhailoff, was honored with the Second Prize at the Martha Argerich International Piano Competition in August 2003, after which she performed in the Martha Argerich Festival in Buenos Aires’ world famous Teatro Col?n and throughout Argentina. “Since I went to PianoSummer my life truly took a wonderful turn, both in terms of professional success and outlook on music,” Oxana comments. “Vladimir Feltsman has so much to share with us and if you are willing to hear his message, your level of talent will rise. It is absolutely priceless. Also, after attending the institute, I got a lot of confidence in my playing, None of my successes would be possible if I did not go to PianoSummer.”
After winning the 2002 Flier competition, Daniel Shleyenkov won the 2003 Young Artist Auditions, New Jersey Symphony, and was heard on Robert Sherman’s Young Artists Showcase on NY radio WQXR. He has performed at the 2004 White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, as well as many other concert venues.
Michael Berkovsky graduated from Julliard in 2004 and has joined the faculty of the Piano School of NYC. He won the 2005 winner of the Juillard Rachmaninoff Concert Competition, and received a John Hirsch Scholarship for the Arts award. He has played with the York Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, Jupiter Symphony and many others.
The Jacob Flier Piano Competition was established to honor this distinguished Russian pianist who taught at the Moscow Conservatory and brought up generations of prominent musicians including Vladimir Feltsman. Students participating in the PianoSummer Institute may elect to participate in the competition – the winner performs a piano concerto in the Symphony Gala with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic conducted by Maestro Feltsman.
FESTIVAL CONCERTS (in date order)
PianoSummer Faculty Gala Saturday, July 16, 8:00 p.m. McKenna Theatre, SUNY New Paltz Tickets: $27 general reserved, $22 reserved senior/student
All-Beethoven program, performed by Vladimir Feltsman, Robert Hamilton, Phillip Kawin, Alexander Korsantia, Paul Ostrovsky, Alexander Slobodyanik. Sonata for 4 Hands Sonata Op. post in E flat major Variations “God Save the King” Bagatelles Op. 126 Concerto in D major 2nd & 3rd Movements
Vladimir Feltsman Recital Saturday, July 23, 8:00 p.m. McKenna Theatre, SUNY New Paltz $27 reserved, $22 reserved senior/student Call (845) 257-3880 for tickets and information
Founder and artistic director of PianoSummer at New Paltz Institute/Festival, Vladimir Feltsman will perform: Bach English Suite No. 2 in A minor Beethoven Sonata “Pathetique” Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
Jacob Flier Piano Competition Gala Saturday, July 30, 8:00 p.m. McKenna Theatre, SUNY New Paltz Tickets: $27 general reserved, $22 reserved senior/student Call (845) 257-3880 for tickets and information
Past recipients of the Jacob Flier Competition award will perform. The pianists include Daria Rabotkina, Oxana Mikhailoff, Daniel Shleyenkov, Michael Berkovsky and Alexander Beridze. Berkovsky: Scarlatti 2 Sonatas Chopin Ballade No. 4 Mikhailoff: Chopin Polonaise-Phantasie Op. 61 Beridze: Stravinsky Petrushka Rabotkina: Rachmaninoff Variations on the Theme of Corelli Shleyenkov: Scriabin Sonata No. 5 and Chopin Polonaise in A flat Major
Symphony Gala with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Vladimir Feltsman, Conductor 2005 Flier Competition Winner, Soloist Friday, August 5, 8:00 p.m. McKenna Theatre, SUNY New Paltz $37 general reserved, $32 reserved senior/student Call (845) 257-3880 for tickets and information
Concluding the month-long program of PianoSummer Institute/Festival, Vladimir Feltsman will conduct the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 (From the New World) Concerto tba
Tickets to concerts are available by calling 845-257-3880 or online at www.newpaltz.edu/piano. Institute events are held throughout each week. For a complete list visit the website.
Faculty and Performers
PianoSummer brings together outstanding artists-teachers, whose artistic excellence matches their devotion to teaching.
Vladimir Feltsman has performed with virtually every major American orchestra, and has appeared on the most important recital series and music festivals in the USA and abroad.
Robert Hamilton is a prizewinner of the Busoni, Casella, Montevideo, and Rudolph Ganz competition, and has performed in major concert halls throughout the world. He has recorded for Phillips, Orion and Summit Records as well as for the BBC in London. Mr. Hamilton is featured in the book The Most Wanted Piano Teachers in the USA.
Phillip Kawin is a member of the piano faculty at the Manhattan School of Music. He has performed in Italy, Russia, and recently toured Australia.
Paul Ostrovsky, a former student of Jacob Flier. He has appeared on the world’s great concert stages such as Carnegie Hall, the Philharmonie in Berlin, and the Musikverein in Vienna.
Alexander Slobodyanik is a prizewinner of the Tchaikovsky and Chopin international competitions, and appears frequently at international festivals. He has recorded for Melodiya and other labels and is recognized as an outstanding interpreter of Romantic music.
Guest Faculty 2005:
Susan Starr has performed more than fifty concerts with the Philadelphia Orchestra since her debut at age six. She has also been heard with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, National Symphony and Moscow Symphony. Starr has performed with such eminent conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Charles Dutoit, Sir Neville Mariner, Eugene Ormandy, Robert Shaw and Maxim Shostakovich.
Min Kwon is in great demand as a performer, teacher and journalist, and has appeared in recital at Lincoln Center; Orchestra Hall, Chicago; Academy of Music, Philadelphia; and on BBC TV.
Alexander Korsantia won first prize and a gold medal at the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition, and first prize at the Sydney International Piano Competition. In 2003, Georgian National television released a full-length documentary about him.
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