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More people are picking up old instruments and making beautiful music again thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic
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While learning to play an instrument is rarely easy, adults such as Harold Smarkola, right, playing for teacher Thomas Masinter, usually don’t face the same pressures such as preparing for recitals or worrying about grades as children.Billy Calzada /Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
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Harold Smarkola, right, until May had never played a musical instrument in his life. He listens to advice from his piano teacher Thomas Masinter.Billy Calzada /Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
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POTTER TWP. Jackson Hunt, a junior at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, took home third-place honors last month in a national competition for young composers.
This is the second year in a row the Potter Township teen finished third in the Music Teachers National Association Composition Competition. Hunt advanced to the finals after winning a statewide contest and one of seven divisional contests hosted by the NACC.
He received a monetary prize and recognition in national NACC publications for his original composition “Five Images opus 12, a collection of five pieces; ”Rain in the Forest,” “Sunset in the Desert,” “Fog on the River,” Snow on the Mountaintop” and “Sunshine on the Beach.”
Dear Cellists and Cello Lovers,
I am very pleased to announce the details of the next University of Wyoming Cello Festival.
We have planned an amazing lineup of guests and events. Due to ongoing COVID concerns, we will hold the festival ONLINE. It will take place on April 24, 2021 via ZOOM.
Our distinguished cellist guests this year are Rick Mooney (National Cello Institute), Natalie Haas (renown Celtic Cellist) and Soeyoen Min (Principal Cello of the Colorado Symphony).
UW Cello Festival events planned for April 24, 2021 will feature Rick Mooney presenting three lesson classes on Suzuki Books 1-3; if you or your students would like to perform for Rick, please contact me. Natalie Haas will guide us in a hands-on workshop on the fundamentals of Celtic Cello. Principal Cellist of the Colorado Symphony, Soeyoen Min, will offer her tips on preparing orchestral excerpts. Rick Mooney will close the day with a technique session on one of our favorite topics- Popper Etudes.
PENDLETON â The Umatilla-Morrow District of the Oregon Music Teachers Association, in partnership with the Oregon Community Foundation and the Nellie Tholen Fund, will present a free lecture for pianists, piano teachers and all who would be interested on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, presented by Jennifer Wright.
Entitled “Playing Perfectly: What It Takes to Practice and Perform Completely Without Mistakes (or Fear of Mistakes) Yes, It’s Possible!” the lecture will be held via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82961743054. This lecture is free and open to the public; no preregistration, membership or fee is required.
Music Institute students excel in fall competitions
Posted12/29/2020 1:42 PM
The Music Institute of Chicago s Academy for gifted pre-college pianists and string players and Community Music School students have started the school year with several noteworthy virtual competition achievements.
Academy students swept the Lisker Music Foundation 2020 Young Artists Scholarship Competition, with each winner earning a scholarship and an opportunity to perform on the LMF series:
• Piano: Zachary Guo, 14, Deerfield
• Cello: Jan Nedvetsky, 14, Wilmette
In the 2020-21 Music Teachers National Association state competitions, Illinois winners included the following students, who advance to the East Central Division competition ( indicates Academy):
Senior strings
• Alternate: Esme Arias-Kim , violin, 15, Hoffman Estates