STERLING NOTES
No. 1 Newsletter of the 2011 International Convention Thursday, August 11
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International Competition Winner Announced Wednesday Evening
Yukiko Sekino, piano, is next Mu Phi Epsilon Concert Artist
Every three years, the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation sponsors an international competition. Fraternity members may compete to become a finalist in the competition, which gives them the opportunity to receive a five hundred dollar Claudette Sorel Award, which went to this year’s five superb finalists: organist Jonathan Young, cellist Jesse Henkensiefken, hornist Gina Gilie, pianist Yukiko Sekino, and flutist Sophia Tegart. Along with this substantial amount of money, the winner of the competition receives numerous performance opportunities in concerts and recitals presented by various chapters within a two year time frame. The winner of the 2011 competition, pianist Yukiko Sekino, is looking forward to these wonderful opportunities.
On the right path
Sekino says her motivation to enter the competition came from the support of her Boston Alumni Chapter. She believes that this support behind her and a solid, well-prepared repertoire put her on the path to becoming a star pianist. “Always have something to offer,” says Sekino. Although she admits to experiencing anxiety and nervousness before the performance despite her exceptional preparation, she can be seen as the perfect example of how simple but powerful things like support and practice can take a person farther in the world than they might think.
By Chy F. Billings, III (Phi Pi)
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Meet the Wednesday Evening Reception Performers
The Chamber Maids
Flutist Susan Gates (Rochester Alumni) is a former public school music teacher, now a private teacher of flute and piano and a composer. A longstanding member of The Baroque Chamber Trio, she now performs with The Chamber Maids and sings with the Eastman Rochester Chorus and the Chautauqua Choir.
Oboist Susan Kieren appeared as a soloist for nine years at the Orvieto Musica Chamber Music Festival in Italy. She performs regularly in Rochester with numerous groups including Amadeus Chorale, 12 Corners Klezmer Band, and plays viola da gamba with the Mean Tone Consort.
Cellist Dorothy Romanet (Zeta) has taught at Morningside College and Bay View Summer College. She was music director at Trinity Episcopal Church in Rochester, where she also performs for Morning Musicale, and has performed with the University of Rochester Symphony Orchestra.
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Did you hear what I played? One pianist's journey into resistant territory
A preview of Keith Ford's lecture on Thursday at 2pm (Grand Ballroom ABCD)
I am a concert pianist, trained in two conservatories (UMKC and the RAM in London). Yet I now teach in a high school where hip hop, X-Factor and R&B are the repertoire of choice, and I have volunteered to be the MC for a new concert series. What happens when I try to harmonize my classical music sensibilities with the pop sensibilities of these kids? The lecture will explore how we as classical musicians perform and teach in places that do not have classical music as a part of their culture, with examples from projects in Zanzibar, Alabama and inner-city London. – Keith Ford
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