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Purpose:
The Gig Harbor Young Artist Competition for Pianists is designed to encourage piano students to strive for excellence in both their practice and performance. Our goal is to foster a healthy competitive environment where students can learn the value of giving their best.
We trust this opportunity will promote high levels of both camaraderie and excellence in the Gig Harbor piano community! We are excited to have an in person competition, open to family, friends, and the Gig Harbor community.
*Note* Judges music MUST have the measure numbers written in.
WHEN: May 17th, 2025
TIME: 10AM-2PM
DIVISION TIMES: NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
WHERE: St. John's Episcopal Church
REGISTRATION/PAYMENT DEADLINE: Registration closes Monday, April 18th, 2025. Payment Postmarked by April 18th, 2025
Teachers, please submit the following information to both Angela Morone (amorone.music@gmail.com) and Tanya Stambuk (tstambuk@pugetsound.edu) by April 18th.
Student name
Division
Title of piece
Composer
Time/length of piece
Teacher name
GUEST JUDGE: Dr. Helena Azevedo
Co-chairs: Angela Morone and Tanya Stambuk
2025 Event Details & Rules: (Read VERY carefully)
For Students ages 10-18 (on January 1, 2025)
Enter the appropriate division based on what your age will be on January 1st, 2025. If you have a question or concern, contact your teacher.
There are 3 divisions: Intermediate (ages 10-12), Junior (13-15), Senior (16-18)
1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes will be awarded in each division as follows:
- Intermediate: $100 / $75 / $50
- Junior: $125 / $100 / $75
- Senior: $200 / $150 / $100
Entry Fees: $25 for Intermediate Students / $25 for Junior & Senior Students --due to Patti Jamieson or postmarked by April 18th. Make checks out to YOUR STUDIO TEACHER. Your teacher will collect fees from all their students and make out ONE check to Gig Harbor WSMTA and mail it to:
2819 20th Ave Ct NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Please note that there are no refunds for cancellations. All entry fees go directly toward the scholarship prizes and costs to run the competition.
Other Details:
- Students perform 1 piece, fully memorized. (Time limit is six minutes for Intermediate, seven minutes for Junior, eight minutes for Senior). Contact Angela Morone if piece changes. Piece may not be changed after May 1st.
- One copy of music must be presented to the judge. Judge's music MUST have the measure numbers written in. (Lack of music will disqualify a student.) No photocopies allowed. Remove or cover both students' and teachers' names on the music.
- Arrive promptly 20 minutes before your competition time is scheduled to begin.
- Winners will be announced at the end of the each division competition and and awards will be given.
-. Each student will get 30 seconds to 1 minuet before their competition division starts for a sound check, not a warmup. Please plan to warm up before coming.
- Students should dress nicely for the competition, and are expected to bow before and after their piece. Students are encouraged to stay for the length of their division.
- Practice wearing your dress clothes so they don't hinder your performance!
About the Judges...
Dr. Helena Azevedo
Dr. Helena Azevedo
Brazilian pianist Helena Azevedo became involved in music at a very young age. At six she was accepted into the youth program at the Carlos Gomes Conservatory in Belem, where she studied music theory, history and took piano lessons, which became the foundation of her musical education. Throughout her childhood she studied piano with her mother, piano professor Doris Azevedo.
Helena’s formal music education consists of a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Texas at Austin. She also completed the coursework for a Doctorate in Piano Performance at U.T. Austin. Her piano teachers have included Peter Yazbek, Anton Nel, and Greg Allen, and in pedagogy, her teachers were Amanda Vick Lethco and Martha Hilley. Helena has performed in numerous master classes for artists such as Seymour Bernstein, John Perry, Loren Hollander, Leon Bates, Bela Siki, Nelson Freire, and Arnaldo Cohen.
Highlights of Helena’s performance career and awards include the following: Guest Soloist with the Belem Symphony, Brazil; First Place Prize Winner, “Debut Tour Competition” sponsored by Ladies Musical Club, Seattle; Amanda Vick Lethco Piano Pedagogy Prize; Featured Soloist with the U.C.S.B. Orchestra and Para’s Chamber Orchestra; Aspen School of Music Scholarship; Esperia Foundation Award Scholarship for attendance at Johannesen International School of the Arts, B.C., Canada.
Helena’s teaching experience includes “Group Piano Symposium” guest lecturer in Belem, Brazil; Assistant Director of Piano Pedagogy Project at U.T. Austin Music Department; Class Piano Instructor, U.T. Fine Arts Department Continuing Education Program; Class Piano Teacher at U.T. Austin Music Department and Music Center Northwest, Seattle, WA. Helena has also served as a judge for the Seattle International Piano Festival and Competition, Music Works Northwest and Music Teacher’s Association. Currently, she is an Associate Faculty Member in the Music Department at Shoreline Community College WA.
“Beautiful performance Helena, pure music poetry…”
-Seymour Bernstein
Congratulations to the 2023 Young Artist Piano Competitors!
Senior: 1st place Calder Failla, 2nd Luke Willock, 3rd Amanda Niven
Junior: 1st place Kaylani Johnson, 2nd place Ashley Purcell, 3rd place Abigail Winslow
Intermediate: 1st place Maya Rogers, 2nd place Bolin Zhang, 3rd place Kate Beckdolt, Honorable Mention Jubileena Olson
Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 Young Artists Competition for Piano!
The winners of the Senior Division are:
1st Hannah King - Student of Tanya Stambuk
2nd Ellah Sundell - Student of Isabella Jie
3rd Chloe Bowyer - Student of Kimberley Joe
The winners of the Junior Division are:
1st Ashley Purcell - Student of Suzanne Gillman
2nd Emma King - Student of Tanya Stambuk
3rd Olivia Greenheck - Student of Kassia Thompson
Honorable Mentions Boen Liu student of Patti Jamieson and Annah Leavitt student of Margaret Eddy
The winners of the Intermediate Division are:
1st Elan Presson - Student of Annette Kebsch
2nd Caroline Davidson - Student of Kimberley Joe
3rd Murphy Massey-O'Hanlon - Student of Connie Linjegren
Honorable Mentions Kaya Nau and Jubileena Olson - Students of Margaret Eddy
The videos will be available on Facebook here!
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