Young Artist Competition for Pianists 

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

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.

This event will be in person AND Livestreamed on our Facebook page. Please like our Facebook page to get any updates! Family are welcome at this Recital Competition. 


*Note* Judges music MUST have the measure numbers written in.

WHEN:   April 22th, 2023

TIME: 10AM-2PM

DIVISION TIMES: Intermediate  10-10:30, Junior 10:45-11:30, Senior 12:00-1:00 (Be 20 minutes early to your division)

WHERE: St. John's Episcopal Church





REGISTRATION/PAYMENT DEADLINE: Registration closed Monday, April 3rd. Payment Postmarked by April 7th, 2023

GUEST JUDGE: Dr. Nicole Kim

Co-chairs:  Susan Speicher and Tanya Stambuk



 

2023 Event Details & Rules: (Read VERY carefully)

For students ages 10-18 (on June 30th, 2023). Enter the appropriate division based on what your age will be on June 30th, 2023. 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 your teacher by April 3rd and due to Patti Jamieson or postmarked by April 7th. 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:

Pattie Jamieson

 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 five minutes for Intermediate, six minutes for Junior, seven minutes for Senior). Contact Susan Speicher if piece changes. Piece may not be changed after April 11th. 

- 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. 

- Social distance or mask according to your digression during the competition.

- 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.

- Students must sign the Media Release Form for the live Broadcast or the camera will be turned away from them while they perform.

-  Practice wearing your dress clothes so they don't hinder your performance!

About the Judges...

Dr. Nicole Kim

Dr. Nicole Kim has been a concert pianist, teacher, and adjudicator in the US and abroad. She was a winner of The Joanna Hodge’s International Piano Competition. Her performances have been televised on the West Coast as well as East Coast. She has been quoted by the press as one of the best young pianists of her time and was honored as The Artist of the Year by the city of Bell Flower, CA in 1998. She was a faculty member at colleges and universities in California, Korea and Bellevue. Under the tutelage of Daniel Pollak, Nancy Bricard , Gilbert Blount, and Malcolm Hamilton, Dr. Kim earned her doctorate degree in Piano Performance, Music History, Ethnomusicology and Harpsichord from USC. Her former teachers are Mack McCray, Eduardo Delgado and Robert Turner. She is faithful to the interpretation of different musical styles and composers. In 2012 Dr. Kim formulated the lecture series on the entire Beethoven’s 32 Sonatas. This year she will present this lecture on Beethoven’s early Sonatas at the Lake Washington chapter, and will be performing in Tacoma. Currently, she has a very demanding studio in Bellevue. Dr. Kim is a Steinway Artist.


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!