БМТГ Межконтинентальный Конкурс Пианистов 2018
DISTINGUISHED JURORS
Nina Kogan
Moscow, Russia
Nina Kogan was born into a family of musicians and is the daughter of two legendary violinists, Leonid Kogan and Elizaveta Gilels, the sister of the great pianist Emil Gilels.
Nina Kogan is a top prizewinner of the M. Long Piano Competition in Paris. Nina Kogan has performed as soloist with many prominent orchestras including the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, USSR State Radio & TV Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra National de France, Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Korean Symphony Orchestra, George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Macedonian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Zagreb Philharmonic. She also frequently performs in recital, plays a vast variety of chamber music, and gives master classes all over the world. She was awarded as an Honored Artist of Russia.
Antonio Manzo D'Nes
Zacatecas, Mexico
In recent years, Antonio Manzo D’nes has been featured in the principal music halls in Mexico, USA and France. He has performed as solist with Xalapa Symphony Orchestra, Aguascalientes Symphony Orchestra, Chihuahua Philharmonic, Coahuila Chamber Orchestra, Hidalgo Symphony Orchestra, Jalisco Philharmonic, San Luis Potosi Symphony Orchestra, Puebla Symphony, Queretaro Philharmonic, Yuactán Symphony, Tamaulipas Symphony and Zacatecas Philharmonic, among others.
Mr. Manzo holds a bachelors degree from the University of Veracruz, a master degree from the UNAM and studies in piano perfomance in the Schola Cantorum and National Conservatory in France. Currently he is professor in the School of Music of the Autonomus University of Zacatecas.
Scott Beard
West Virginia, USA
Dr. Scott Beard, dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education, is one of three academic deans at Shepherd who has a musical background. Beard, a graduate of Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, literally began pursuing his first career, as a pianist, when he was a child.
Beard has also compiled and co-edited four collections for Alfred Publishing, Essential Two-Piano Repertoire, Essential Keyboard Trios, and two volumes of Essential Piano Duets, with his friend
and fellow Peabody graduate, Dr. Lucy Mauro, associate professor of piano at West Virginia University.
Irina Mints
Friedberg, Germany
Irina Mints – is an internationally acclaimed piano teacher, concert artist, adjudicator and author from Germany, achieving great successes with the education of young pianists.
Irina’s students performed at Carnegie Hall / New York, Royal Albert Hall and St. John's Smith Square / London, Wiener Musikverein and Laeiszhalle / Hamburg
Since 2008 her pupils received over 230 awards, including many first prizes and grants in renowned national and international competitions, such as
International Steinway Piano Competition in Hamburg (Germany),
International “Carmel Klavier” piano competition in Carmel (USA)
International Competition "Chopin for the Youngest" in Antonin (Poland),
Irina Mints, originally from Ukraine, graduated from the Academy of Music and Arts in Kharkiv with the highest excellence. Her teachers were Professor Sergei Polusmiak and Professor Regina Horowitz – the sister of legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz.
As a passionate educator, became Irina Mints known through her presentations, workshops and master classes in Europe, China and USA.
Her piano teaching method for all beginners “Hello, Piano!” has been sold in more than 90 countries.
She served as a jury member at several national and international piano competitions in Ukraine, Europe and USA.
Urszula Gruszewski
Adelaide, Australia
Urszula Gruszewski BA, B.Mus.Hons, MM, Adv.T,Dip. Ed, MIMT, A.Mus.A, L.Mus.A, leads a multifaceted working life throughout Australia as a piano pedagogue, soloist, accompanist, examiner, adjudicator and concert director.
As a music educator, Urszula has received considerable acclaim for her work with children, gifted and talented students, and teachers. Her achievements in this field have led to numerous Australian and international engagements.
Urszula has served on a number of committees including the Piano Pedagogy Council of Australia, the Australian Music Examinations Board (at a federal level), the SACE Board of Music and has been a piano tutor at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide.
She has received first prizes in the National Beale Piano Festival and the Bicentennial Eisteddfod Piano Concerto Finals and was recipient of the Australian Society for Keyboard Music Award. She also won a Postgraduate Scholarship at the University of Adelaide, a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Scholarship and a Sir Winston Churchill Medal for the Best National Report and Documentary. Urszula was awarded a Sir Winston Churchill Scholarship, and as a result was associated with eminent musicians in Russia, Ukraine, Poland and England, and at the Julliard School of Music in New York.
Nancy Breth
Virginia, USA
Pre-college students of Nancy O’Neill Breth have won the national (MTNA) piano duet competition three times since it began in 2008.
Nancy frequently gives presentations on piano pedagogy and practicing to teacher groups throughout the country and is the author of Practicing the Piano (2012) and Piano Student’s Guide to Effective Practicing (2004). In 2015 she was named Virginia’s Teacher of the Year. Nancy has degrees in piano performance from the University of Indiana and University of Wisconsin.
Rafal Lewandowski
Gdansk, Poland
Rafal Lewandowski (pianist) combines in his playing the Polish and French piano traditions. He has performed on concert stages across Europe (France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Poland, Danmark, Austria), and frequently plays in the USA. Rafael Lewandowski graduated from the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, Poland. In 1995 he won a scholarship to attend a master-class in Weimar under the direction of the world-famous French pianist Bernard Ringeissen and continued his work with the eminent musician during a two year period in Paris. He unanimously received the First Prize of Rueil Malmaison Chamber Music Competition. He made his New York debut as a soloist performing with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra in the Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center.
Philippa Greenwood
Durban, South Africa
Philippa Greenwood lives in Durban, South Africa. She teaches piano and music theory at Crawford Preparatory La Lucia. Her students range from 5-18 years of age and they participate regularly in concerts and competitions.
Philippa enjoys finding new ways to engage the interest of her students and is always looking for new inspiration from the amazing resources available via the internet and various apps. Her personal challenge at the moment is finding successful ways to incorporate these resources into her lessons. Her aim is to encourage her students to become more involved in understanding their pieces when practicing from week to week.
Jekaterina Rostovtseva
Tallinn, Estonia
Jekatarina Rostovtseva studied piano at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with Prof. Peep Lassmann from 1998-2006, receiving a Master’s Degree. She has participated in the master courses of V. Berman, A. Hewitt, J. MacGregor, K. Randalu, V. Meržanov, V. Novikov, A. Valdma. In 2014, Jekaterina Rostovtseva was announced as best young piano teacher of the year, which was organized by the Estonian Piano Teacher Association. The students of Jekaterina Rostovtseva have won various republican and international competitions in Italy, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia. Her students have also participated in important musical festivals such as Lille Piano Festival, Piano City Milano, Festival Brin d´Herbe in Orleans, France. Jekaterina Rostovtseva has seved on the juries of international competitions for young pianists. She is currently lector of Institute of Interpretation Pedagogics in Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, piano teacher at Tallinn Music High School and Old Town Music School in Tallinn.
Mira Jakopantz
Melbourne, Australia
Originally from Belgrade, Mira received her BA B.Mus Masters in performance from the Faculty of Music. As a student she won numerous competitions, has received a prestige’ October Prize, award for the best piano student at the Academy and subsequently a scholarship to study at the Tchaikovsky Conservatorium in Moscow. She has studied under Professor E. Timakin, Vincenzo Vittale and Kendal Taylor.
Mira has recorded and performed for ABC-FM and 3MBS-FM radio. For the last 15 years she has been teaching piano and piano pedagogy at Monash University, as well as performing and giving master classes. She is an experienced teacher at all levels, an examiner and adjudicator and takes a keen interest in working with talented students. Mira is currently Head of Keyboard Studies at Melbourne Grammar School and accompanist for VCE students.
Vivian Fang Liu
New York, USA
Vivian Fang Liu was born to be a musician," says Felix W. Ortiz, member of Assembly. Ms. Liu was born in China and has studied music in the East and the West. She performed actively in the United States and Europe, venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Hammerstein Hall, Gracie Mansion, Citi Field, and more recently was invited to perform at St. Smith Square in London. Ms. Liu has been invited to judge many music competitions from the United States and China. She is also a piano adjudicator in New York State School of Music Association (NYSSMA). Ms. Liu has a strong passion in teaching and her creative teaching approach is welcomed by the young musicians. Ms. Liu holds her Master's degree in classical piano performance at New York University and currently pursuing her Music Education Master’s degree at Teacher’s College, Columbia University.
Jackie Sharp
Sydney, South Astralia
Jackie Sharp is a piano teacher, pianist and author in Sydney Australia. She has won numerous awards for her teaching, including the prestigious AMEB Shield for having achieved the highest student results in public music examinations in the state of New South Wales.
Jackie is passionate about teaching the piano, and has a special interest in piano technique as a means towards achieving artistry. Her students regularly excel both nationally and internationally in piano competitions, and are frequently invited to perform in concerts in all corners of the world. Her studio website can be found at www.sharpmusicacademy.com.
She is also the author of a growing number of books on piano technique, which can be found at www.purrfectpractice.com.au. Her book, Technique Trainer, has achieved critical acclaim from leading piano pedagogues across the globe.
Edith Kraft
New York, USA
Edith Kraft, a native of New York, began her musical studies at age three and made her first solo appearance with the Hartt Symphony and the Queens Symphony when she was eight. Ms. Kraft has appeared as guest artist with the Juilliard String Quartet and the New York Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet. She has also performed numerous times at Bargemusic. She is a member of the Buswell Ou Kraft Piano Trio. She tied for first prize in the prestigious Walter W. Naumburg Competition, and received first prize in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Competition. Other honors include the Concert Artist’s Guild Award, and the “Youth Merit Laurel” Award for music from the City of New York, chosen by Maestro Leopold Stokowski. In 1978, she was named “Outstanding Woman of the Year” and appeared in “Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges”.
As a scholarship student at The Juilliard School, Edith Kraft studied with Edward Steuermann, Rudolf Firkusny, and Ania Dorfmann. She earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree from Juilliard. She had the honor of playing for Vladimir Horowitz in his home. In 1974, she was appointed Artist-in- Residence at Michigan State University. She was on the Faculty of The Juilliard School for over 30 years
Joni Chan
Indianapolis, USA
Deemed a “player of intelligence and integrity” by the New York Concert Review, Joni Chan is a solo and collaborative pianist who has given concerts throughout the United States, Canada, and China. A native of Hong Kong, Chan holds a doctorate in piano performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
As an educator, Chan has given masterclasses at Furman University, Towson University, Fort Hays State University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Tongji University in Shanghai. In addition to judging for the IMTA festival in Indiana and the WMTA Margaret Frank Bi-Annual Specialty competition in Washington, D.C., Chan has also guest judged competitions at James Madison University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Irina Cherkasski
Melbourne, Australia
Born and educated in Moscow (Russia) Irina Cherkasski developed her musical career in three different countries. Her earlier professional engagements included 10 years as a staff accompanist at Ippolitov–Ivanov College of Music (Moscow) and 6 years in the role of principal repetiteur for Opera New Zealand.
Irina is a regular accompanist for Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne Chamber Choir and Zelman Cowen School of Music at Monash University (Melbourne, Australia).
Irina combines her performance engagements with intensive teaching schedule. She has been teaching at Music departments of St Cuthbert’s College (Auckland, New Zealand), Ivanhoe Grammar School (Melbourne, Australia) and Methodist Ladies College Music Academy (Melbourne, Australia).
