Spring 2005 7th National Chopin Competition Issue The semi-annual publication of the Chopin Foundation of the United States, Inc. Chopin Foundation of the United States, Inc. Officers & Directors cÉÄÉÇt|áx Blanka A. Rosenstiel — Founder & President Spring 2005 Olga Melin — Vice President Volume XIV—Number 1 Kris Lewicki — Treasurer Hanna Saxon — Past President Table of Contents Adam Aleksander Wegrzynek — Artistic Advisor Jadwiga “Viga” Gewert — Executive Director Message from the Founder and President 1 Directors Message from the Competition Director 2 George Berberian, Mercedes Ferré, Peter Goodrich, Dr. Tomasz A. Grabczak, Dr. William Hipp, Harriet Irsay, Dr. Gera Kent, Malgorzata Kossakowska, Dr. Steven Competition Winners 3 Lagerberg, Andrea Lippen, Edmund Sadowski, Jerzy Stryjniak. International Artistic Advisory Council 1st Prize Winner Concert Tour 4 Agustin Anievas, Martha Argerich, Emanuel Ax, Jeffrey N. Babcock, John Bayless, Luiz Fernando Benedini, John Corigliano, Ivan Davis, Christopher T. Dunworth, Competition Jury 5 Charles Dutoit, Marian Filar, Nelson Freire, Bruno Leonardo Gelber, Gary Graff- man, Horacio Gutierrez, Leonid Hambro, Marta Istomin, Byron Janis, James Judd, Competition Contestants 6-7 Cyprien Katsaris, Zoltan Koscis, Jacob Lateiner, Garrick Ohlsson, Paloma O’Shea, Daniel Pollack, Maurizio Pollini, Harold Schonberg, Abbey Simon, Stanislaw Competition Sponsor Thanks 8-9 Skrowaczewski, Michael Tilson Thomas, Charles Wadsworth, Susan Wadsworth, Krystian Zimerman Competition Host Families 10 Editorial: Competition Event Photos 11 Polonaise is published semi-annually by the Chopin Foundation of the United States, Inc. Regional Council Contacts 12 1440 79th Street Causeway, Suite 117, Miami, FL 33141 Editorial Office: 305-868-0624 • 305-865-5150 (Fax) Regional Council Activities 13-15 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.chopin.org Publisher: Lady Blanka A. Rosenstiel Upcoming Chopin Foundation Events 16 Executive Editor: Jadwiga Gewert Cooperating editor: William Mann Scholarship Rules and Application 17-18 Other Contributors: Steven Lagerberg, Bess Kronowitz, Walter Beaman, Gosia Kossakowska, Jerzy Stryjniak. CD’s to Support the Cause 19 Photos: Jadwiga Gewert, Steven Lagerberg, Charles Allan Smith, Sir Ron Wether- Become a Donor 20-21 ington, Copyright © 2005 Chopin Foundation of the United States, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed by Dynacolor Graphics, Inc. Message from the Founder and President “Music produces a pleasure the world cannot do without.” Blanka A. Rosensteil Confucius Dear Friends and Supporters of the The Chopin Foundation is resuming now its regular ac- Chopin Foundation of the U.S.: tivities, such as our Scholarship Program, Free Concert Series in South Florida, etc., and planning for … the Eight National Cho- The Seventh National Chopin pin Piano Competition in the year 2010! Piano Competition was a great success! I am happy to announce that the New York Chopin Not only was the level of the contestants Council is reorganizing under the new leadership of Jerzy Stry- impressively high, and the media cover- jniak, internationally renowned pianist of Polish descent, who age of the event very good, but -- what will soon present his very ambitious program to spread the music brings us the greatest satisfaction -- the of Frederick Chopin among New York audiences. We wish him attendance at the Competition sessions good luck and hope that many New Yorkers will join the Chopin and the Grand Finale was fantastic! We Foundation’s membership and help us carry on our mission to are very happy that music lovers from as keep classical music alive for generations to come. far as California, Rhode Island, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, and from all over Florida, came to Mi- I would like to thank all volunteers who were so instru- ami to celebrate with us this special event that happens only every mental in all stages of the Competition, the host families, the ush- five years. ers, drivers, caterers – all who selflessly devoted their time and effort to make this event a success. Thank you, Bess Kronowitz Our First Prize Winner, Mei-Ting Sun, has already and George Berberian from the Florida Chopin Council for taking started his national concert tour. Before going to Warsaw, he will care of coordinating that impressive community involvement. perform in New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Atlanta, El Paso, New York, Miami and As always, my sincere gratitude to those who care for Washington, D.C. All four top winners will perform a farewell music in our lives and for young talents who so much deserve our concert at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, support – thank you for your assistance. Please stay with us and D.C., on September 17th before leaving for Warsaw to take part in help us continue our mission. the XIV International Chopin Piano Competition. A group of Have a good summer Chopin music lovers will follow them to Poland to witness the event, regarded as the most prestigious music competition in the world. And we will keep our fingers crossed for our four best American “Chopinists” – we know that they will play their best! 1 Message from the 2005 Competition Director Jadwiga Gewert Once the choice to compete is made and the applicants pass Those of us who were fortunate enough to be part of the the selection, they come to compete live before the panel of care- audience or who participated in any way during the 2005 National fully selected jurors. The Jury is comprised of accomplished per- Chopin Piano Competition could not help but feel the excitement formers, educators and musicologists whose professional integrity and elation as we watched the prizes being given out to our six fi- has been proven by the high regard of their audiences and peers nalists. over the course of long exemplary careers. In some magical way the fruits of their combined careers transmit the culture of First, we were moved by the music “performance” to the aspiring contestants. and then, in a different way, we were moved by witnessing a most difficult step And what are these elements that are combined in this cru- in the life of a young performer. We shared cible we call a piano competition? Beside technique, the spirit of with the winner, Mei-Ting Sun, his exhila- the composer, true to the score, must be preserved by the performer. ration and joy, but now a time of hard At the same time some personal interpretation must take place work and preparation has supplanted the within the bounds of musicality so that one performance stands out euphoria of winning the national competi- from the rest. A performance must be a balance of the composer’s tion. All four top winners at Miami now intentions and the performer’s reading of those intentions. On the carry our hopes for success in Warsaw. practical side, a contestant must be a fast learner and have the abil- Now that the medals have been passed out, ity to work with a new conductor and orchestra and establish a mu- the checks cashed, and the media have sical relationship in a short period of time. All of these qualities moved on to other stories, we can reflect must exist plus the ability to balance calmness and excitement so on the process of the competition. that a piece of music may be conveyed with freshness and sponta- neity as if hearing it for the first time. The competition itself is preceded by the young pianist’s decision on whether or not to compete. The teacher guides the stu- The final result was witnessed by a full theatre of enthusi- dent to make a decision whether performance is a possible career asts the evening of March 13. Our hopes for a future for classical choice. At this point he must make a long term commitment to the music in America and our desire to see our winners’ careers prosper preparations for the competition. This obligation may interfere with filled the air. We believe this competition brought out the best in other goals that competitors may have. Many young artists are every contestant; but this is not the end of the quest. This is only gifted in other areas such as science or mathematics. They possess another learning experience along that long road that young per- the potential for outstanding careers in these other fields, and there- formers must take through life. Our competition has enriched both fore their choice takes on much greater significance than their audi- audience and competitors alike. The First Prize Winner’s national ence can appreciate. Those of us who get to know these people have concert tour provides an opportunity for all to judge how well our been greatly impressed with their many and diverse talents. competition has worked! 2 And The Winners Are... The Winners of the 7th National Chopin Piano Competition Left to Right: Mei-Ting Sun, Igor Lovchinsky, Rachel Kudo, Sean Kennard, Howard Na, Esther Park 1st Prize - $18,000 plus a twenty City Concert Tour: Mei-Ting Sun 2nd Prize - $12,000: Rachel Kudo 3rd Prize - $8,000: Sean Kennard 4th Prize - $5,000: Esther Park Special Awards, Non-Medalists - $2,000: Igor Lovchinsky, Howard Na Best Performance of a Mazurka - $1,000: Igor Lovchinsky Best Performance of a Polonaise - $1,000: Mei-Ting Sun Best Performance of a Concerto - $1,000: Mei-Ting Sun In addition to their cash prizes, the top four prize winners are being sent, all-expenses paid, to the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland in September. 3 The Seventh National Chopin Piano Competition 1st Prize Winner’s Concert Tour “Music Matters” Concert Series May 16, 2005 of the American Pianists Association, Indianapolis (317) 940-9945 Chopin Society of Atlanta June 5, 2005 (770) 663-0620 www.chopinatlanta.org Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville, VA June 11, 2005 (540) 832-3824 Winners Series by Smithsonian June 12, 2005 Mei-Ting Sun Washington, DC 1:00 P.M.