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Monthly Archives: May 2012
I’ma Semi-Finalist in the Ima Hogg Competition: A Closer Look- Part 2
Installment 8:
Keeping Your Eye on the Ball
By: Brooklynn Adelman, Houston Symphony Intern
There is a great connection between music and sports. The ability of both activities to sell out stadiums and halls, maintain a massive fan base, and bring communities together is outstanding. The dedication shown by athletes as they train for hours on end and meticulously maintain a healthy diet, and by musicians as they tirelessly rehearse and work in a practice room, is inspiring. According to Andrew Staupe, professional concert pianist and diehard Packers fan, “the commitment required for both musicians and athletes creates a special connection” between the two types of people. In completion of his recent Carnegie Hall debut and in preparation for the Ima Hogg semifinals, Andrew is no stranger to the practice room and truly understands the dedication necessary to be competitive and succeed. He made it to the semi-finals three years ago and is back now fighting for a spot in the finals and a chance to perform with the Houston Symphony.
Andrew grew up in a big family- one of five children- in St. Paul, Minnesota. His first piano lesson was at the age of six; however, as a six year old boy, practicing the piano was not the preferred after-school activity, so dreams of playing the piano were put on hold. His entire family was very involved in the arts, not only music, but ballet and theater as well. It was actually in a theater class that Andrew decided to commit to the piano. An adult actor performed a piece with the piano and Andrew, age ten, was in awe and decided he would begin lessons again. It was not until age 17 that Andrew began seriously practicing with the intent of becoming a professional pianist. He now holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in piano performance and is currently a D.M.A. candidate at Rice University. Andrew’s goal is not only to continue being a successful concert pianist, but to follow in the footsteps of his teachers Lydia Artymiw and Jon Kimura Parker in becoming a teacher as well.
Andrew Staupe, Piano
When asked to tell his favorite musical joke, Andrew responds: “What do you get when you throw a piano down a mine shaft? A flat minor!”
Andrew is firm believer in maintaining a social life and a good sense of humor. Off the stage and outside of the practice room Andrew has a passion for the outdoors and frequently enjoys Hermann Park and playing Ultimate Frisbee. His best piece of advice to anyone visiting Houston is that, “You must eat, and eat, and eat!” and after much contemplation Andrew decided that Goode Co. was his number one pick.
Andrew has a special place in his heart for Houston and believes that this city is “home to world class orchestras and music schools”. Ultimately he hopes to be able to touch the audience and jury and share his passion for these pieces through his performance; the medal would be an added bonus!
Being selected as a semi-finalist in the Ima Hogg Competition, is very similar to being a top NFL draft pick. Andrew will be playing in the semi-finals TODAY at 3:00 PM in Rice University’s Stude Hall. The semi-finals are free and open to the public. Root for Andrew and find out if he makes it to the Ima Hogg Finals – a musical superbowl, so to speak – and thus has the opportunity of a lifetime to play a complete concerto with the Houston Symphony in the Finals on June 2nd at 7:00 PM. More information about this world class competition can be found HERE.
Stay tuned to learn who the final four will be this evening! We will announce the winners through Facebook and Twitter! And get your tickets for the Finals competition on Saturday June 2 HERE to find out who the winner will be!
I’ma Semi-Finalist in the Ima Hogg Competition: A Closer Look- Part 1
Installment 7:
Meet Clara Lyon, 26 year-old violinist and graduate of The Julliard School and Stony Brook University, where she is currently working on her D.M.A. Born into a very musical family, Clara was destined to have an affinity for music and its overwhelming capability to impose its emotionality upon a listener. When asked, though, what she would do if (for some outlandish reason) she could not be a classical musician, she expressed her interest in electronic music, the combination of film and music, or (now here’s the kicker) making classical music videos.
The Sound, er, Vision of Music
By: Lauren Moore, Houston Symphony Intern
Have you ever wondered what goes through a musician’s head when he performs, or even just sits down practice? Sure, some musicians are strictly business, carefully calculating the numerous technical details they’ve so diligently practiced over and over. Others simply let the music overtake them, as they have become one with their instruments and the music.
Then there are those who incorporate a third element, if you will- the ones who let their minds wander to create visual images. One may see a scenic view scrolling by while playing a Pastorale, or envision a dramatic scene being played out while performing a Fantasie. Even more, in the case of one of our Ima Hogg competitors, you may be mentally compiling a storyboard for a sort of classical music video. The pairing of images and music is by no means a fresh concept – but when you start thinking MTV meets KUHF, things could get interesting.
Clara Lyon, Violin
Now, we’ve all come across those YouTube videos of a classical recording that has been set to a PowerPoint montage of stock photos of the composer, and scenes of pastels. But being that Clara’s musical tastes aside from classical repertoire consist of classic rock, electronic music, and even some rap (that has cleverly incorporated elements of classical music), one can’t help but think that her brain has spun in a completely different direction. This in turn made me reflect on how I personally envisioned music, either music that I am playing or that I am experiencing. I asked myself, how could I more creatively see the music. How would I show someone else exactly what I think the music is portraying? A classical music video may not have been what my mind conjured, but in this day and age, with so many fusions of music and technology, it doesn’t seem peculiar.
Before you let your mind wander a little too far and think I intend to produce a video in which P. Diddy or Justin Timberlake interpret a Mozart concerto or a Debussy prelude, let me get to the point of this. Music is created, create being the base word, shared with creativity. What better way to keep the interest alive in music than to create new ways to see it, and new ways to enjoy it? I encourage you to think outside the box, outside the practice room, and see the music. Let your mind wholesomely experience the entity of music, and let your mind be alive with the possibilities of music, and the visual pleasures it may bring. Who knows, Beethoven and Brahms may have enjoyed experimenting with wide shots, tracking, and soft lighting.
Stay tuned to learn who the final four will be this evening! We will announce the winners through Facebook and Twitter! And get your tickets for the Finals competition on Saturday June 2 HERE to find out who the winner will be!
I’ma Semi-Finalist in the Ima Hogg Competition: From Coast to Coast
Installment 6:
Tomorrow, Houston’s very own Mercedes Smith, principal flutist of the Houston Grand Opera will be competing alongside San Francisco Bay Area native and pianist, Stephanie Ng, along with eight other musicians for the chance of a life time for a young musician – the opportunity to perform a complete concerto with the Houston Symphony. As an 11 year old, Mercedes decided to play the flute because “well, duh – it is the coolest instrument ever. It is like being head of the cheer leading team, there was no other option.” Stephanie quoted Liszt in describing her love for the piano: “You have the entire symphony at your fingertips.” On Thursday May 31st, find out if one of these semi-finalists, from one coast to another coast, will be selected to perform with the Houston Symphony as a finalist on Saturday June 2nd.
Mercedes Smith, Flute
Stephanie Ng, Piano
I’ma Semi-Finalist in the Ima Hogg Competition: Yankees vs. Red Sox
Installment 5:
From New York City, 26 year old violinist Clara Lyon, who is currently a D.M.A. student at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a Juilliard alumna, will be putting her interests in classic rock, electronic music and rap aside to compete as a semi-finalist in the Ima Hogg Competition. 29 year old marimbist WeiChen Lin, who grew up in Taiwan and is working on his doctorate degree at Boston University, is looking forward to displaying the diverse colors of the marimba at the Ima Hogg Competition. Find out how the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry will play out between these New York and Boston based semi-finalists on Thursday May 31st at the Semi-Finals competition. Get tickets for the Finals on Saturday June 2nd HERE.
Clara Lyon, Violin
WeiChen Lin, Marimba
I’ma Semi-Finalist in the Ima Hogg Competition: From Russia
Installment 4:
Two Russian pianists were selected as semi-finalists and will be joining us in Houston to compete in the Ima Hogg Competition. 29 year old Anna Keiserman attended The Moscow State Gnessius Academy and is currently a student at the University of Minnesota. Anna mentioned that she thought her English was pretty good until she visited Texas for the first time. We will be sure to hold back our drawl to help her out a little during this visit. 27 year old pianist Natalia Tkachenko is from Vladikavkaz, Russia and is currently a student at Texas Christian University. Natalia describes her hometown, where she lived up until a few years ago, as “a very beautiful and quite place with a lot of green trees and a river called Terek in the center of the city.” Growing up in such a beautiful place probably had quite an influence on her as a musician. We welcome both of these contestants to the great city of Houston. Find out if either of these contestants will appear with the Houston Symphony in the Finals on Saturday June 2nd by attending the semi-finals on Thursday May 31st. Get your tickets for the Finals HERE.
Anna Keiserman, Piano
Natalia Tkachenko, Piano
