Pianists Updates »
Trenton Takaki, 14, makes his Carnegie Hall debut in a Winner's Concert this Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM. Congratulations, Trenton!
Trenton took first place in the Bradshaw Buono International Piano Competition, middle school division. He studies with Sueanne Metz of Glenview, IL and is a student at Wilmette Junior High.
His most recent performance venues include Symphony Center at Macy's Day of Music and the Skokie Library as a featured artist in the Young Steinway Series Concert. As a second prize winner in the 17th Steinway Young Artists Competition, Trenton was heard on the classical music radio station WFMT. He won 2nd Place twice at the Chopin Youth Piano Competition in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2007 and 2008. Takaki competed in the 2007 Junior Virginia Waring International Piano Competition.
Mikhail Korzhev, our 2005 Krenek Prize Winner and 1993 Solo and Concerto Prize Winner, has a new CD available from Phoenix Edition, part of the Naxos label. Naxos officials say the CD is a top seller! The CD features 6 works by Ernst Krenek, written between 1926 and 1958. Internet reviewers give it high praise.
Colton Peltier, 2007 Junior Concerto Winner, competed his Concerto Performance Prize with the Lamont Symphony, playing Tchaikovsky. Against all etiquette, the audience gave Colton a standing ovation after the first movement!
Jan Lisiecki, 2007 Junior Solo Winner, just played at the Chopin Festival in Poland. Jan also came in 2nd in the Manchester International Piano Competition in England.
Aaron Kurz, age 11, won First Place in the Elementary Division of the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, earning him a debut / mini-recital at Carnegie Hall. His mother says "It's been a great six months that was all generated by the Virginia Waring competition! In retrospect, the March competition was like a dream come true for Aaron and our entire family". Way to go, Aaron!! Aaron won the 2007 Junior Solo 2nd Place Prize and was awarded the James Bastien "Best Performance of a Sonata - Junior Dividion, 2007" prize.
