A little late to get the word out, but better late than never. I give thanks for the fact that I have been so busy.

The info below is for the 2nd + 3rd of 3 events. The first concert with Eric Himy was at the UCC Church on Summit Ave. and was a successful charity benefit for the Maureen Conway foundation. It was amazing. I will post the recordings later for your enjoyment.

Eric Himy will also be appearing on MN Public Radio for an hour long live performance/interview in celebration of Chopin's birthday.


Two great concert events:

1) The performers in this first event are, with one exception, between the ages of 8 and 17.


Celebrating 350 Years of Chopin & Paderewski

In 2010, two of the most beloved Polish composers,

Fryderyk Chopin and Ignacy Jan Paderewski, celebrate landmark birthdays.

To commemorate these anniversaries the Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota

with

The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music and Wells Pianos

present a unique concert featuring today’s piano prodigies of the Twin Cities.

Come for an afternoon of beauty, in the sacred atmosphere of

Church of the Holy Cross

1621 University Ave N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55413

Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 1:30 pm

Following the performance is a tea and cakes reception to meet the performers in Kolbe Hall.

Tickets are $5 at www.pacim.org or at the door.

PO Box 18403, Minneapolis, MN, 55418-0403 www.pacim.org

On behalf of the Polish American Cultural Institute I would like to thank you for your interest in today’s special event. The Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota (PACIM) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization promoting Polish and Polish-American culture and traditions.

Marking the bicentenary of Fryderyk Chopin’s birth, the year 2010 is billed as the Chopin Year. Chopin was one of the most original of all composers. Intimate and poetic, the music of Fryderyk Chopin has almost universal appeal. Another of the greatest pianists who ever lived also celebrates a landmark birthday. This year is the 150th birthday of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Polish pianist, composer, diplomat, politician, and the third Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland.

Today, young talented professionals representing The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music, and other important local studios will play exclusively the music of Chopin and Paderewski. The performance will include explanatory readings of the life and times of Chopin and Paderewski and insight into their complex music. We are grateful that the Russian Pianist, Denis Evstuhin, who has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, has agreed to perform for us.

Thank you to the performers, parents, sponsors, announcers and volunteers who made this event possible, including: Ruth Berkowitz, Janice Frakie (Holy Cross), Irene Colston, Judith Blanchard, Teri Vogt, Jeffrey Peterson, Ursula Peterson, Had Solberg, Martha Pacnik, Jeff Lohaus, Laura Boehland, Maggie Zborowski, Aneta Toporowska, Bruce Rubin, Charlene Delaney.

Our hope, in celebrating these beloved Polish composers through our local Twin Cities performers, is that you will leave today changed in some way by this performance.

Arthur Rubinstein, a Polish pianist and one of the greatest 20th century Chopin specialists, said:

“When the first notes of Chopin sound through the concert hall, there is a happy sigh of recognition.

When I play Chopin, I know I speak directly to the hearts of people.”

Thank you for the gift of your presence today.

Anastasia Dzenowagis, Director, Board, Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota

PERFORMANCE

Waltz in F minor, Op. 70 no. 2 Frederyk Chopin

Andy Tseng

Waltz in D flat, Op. 64 no. 1 Frederyk Chopin

Arthur Tseng

Ballade no. 3 in A flat, Op. 47 Frederyk Chopin

Sophia Kor

Ballade no. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 Frederyk Chopin

Benjamin Osterhouse

Waltz in E minor, Op. posthumous Frederyk Chopin

Scherzo no. 1 in B minor, Op.20

William Yang

Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28 no. 4 Frederyk Chopin

Polonaise No. 1 in A Major (Military), Op. 40

James Brockhurst

Fantasy Impromptu, Op. 66 Frederyk Chopin

Michele Zhang

Sherzino, Op. 10 no. 3 Ignacy Jan Paderewski

Theme Varie, Op. 16

"Heroic" Polonaise A flat Major, Op. 53 Frederyk Chopin

With special appearance by:

Denis Evstuhin


FREDERYK CHOPIN

PERFORMERS

Performer: James Brockhurst, Cottage Grove, MN, Teacher: Elena Piastro

James is a 7th grade student and studies under St. Paul Conservatory of Music teacher Elena Piastro. James has been a serious pianist since he was 8, winning local competitions and has been awarded Master classes with renown pianists like Jerome Rose. James participates in fundraisers for the Conservatory, the Music Link Foundation and has played in St. Petersburg, Russia for a friendship concert. James’ favorite Chopin quote is “Put all your soul into it. Play how you feel!”

Performer: Sophia Kor, Eagan, MN, Teacher: Kim Craig

Sophia Kor is a senior at Eastview High School. As a pianist, she has been taking lessons with Kim Craig for the past ten years. It is at the Conservatory where she performs with the SPCM Baroque Ensemble, with Clea Galhano as director.

Performer: Benjamin Osterhouse, St. Paul, MN , Teacher: Kim Craig

Benjamin is in 12th grade and attends classes at Concordia University as a PSEO student. He has been playing piano for 11 years and studies with Kim Craig at The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music. Benjamin is also a cellist and plays in the Minnesota Youth Symphonies. At Concordia he has broadened his musical experience by singing in college choirs and by taking voice, organ, and composition lessons and music theory classes. He plans to pursue composition as his college major.

Performer: Andy Tseng, St. Paul, MN, Teacher: Ivan Konev

Andy studied piano for two years until Ivan Konev of the St. Paul Conservatory of Music. His twin brother is Arthur is also playing at this concert.

Performer: Arthur Tseng, St. Paul, MN, Teacher: Ivan Konev

Arthur studied piano for two years under Ivan Konev of the St. Paul Conservatory of Music. His twin brother is Andy is also playing at this concert.

Performer: William Yang, Eden Prairie, MN, Teacher: Dr. Paul Wirth

William studied piano for 4 years until Dr. Paul Wirth. He likes classic music and his favorite composers are Chopin, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven.

Performer: Michele Zhang, Eden Prairie, MN, Teacher: Dr. Juan Li

14 year old Michele Zhang has been playing piano since the young age of six years old. Her first six years were spent learning from Mrs. Patricia Kay Langer. She then moved to Connecticut for one year, where she studied with Dr. Svetlana Fiorito. She has been learning from Dr. Juan Li after returning to Minnesota last year. Michele finished many levels of piano exams with high distinction, as well as being a finalist for MMTA Piano Contests. In 2008, she placed third in MMTA’s Junior Young Artist competition. In 2009, she was a finalist in a Connecticut talent search. She also has done numerous performances on the Chinese instrument called the guzheng.



DENIS EVSTUHIN (GUEST APPEARANCE)

Russian pianist Denis Evstuhin was born in 1981 in St. Petersburg, and started his musical training at the age of five. He has performed in major cities and venues throughout Germany, Austria, Spain, Russia, France, Switzerland, Finland, Poland, Estonia, and the US. Mr. Evstuhin has been presented at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including the Walt Disney Convert Hall in Los Angeles, the Great Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff halls in Moscow, The Mariinsky Theater and the Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg as well as Orchestral Hall in Minneapolis, among others.

He has also appeared on radio and television in Russia, Europe and the US, including Russian National Television, Russian Radio, and Minnesota Public Radio, performing works by Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

Denis Evstuhin is a laureate of numerous prestigious international piano competitions, including Andorra International Competition, Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition, Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition, Iowa Piano Competition and others.

Mr. Evstuhin holds a B.M. and M.M from the St. Petersburg Conservatory (studio of Professor Eduard Bazanov). While in the US, he received his Artist Diploma from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He continues to work with Professor Alexander Braginsky and is currently pursuing a DMA in Piano Performance at the University of Minnesota.

Mr. Evstuhin, who first performed at TMORA to an enthusiastic full house in July 2009, organized “Music at the Museum”, a “series” featuring a wide range of Russian classics and serves as its Artistic Director.



TEACHERS

Kim Craig, The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music

BA cum laude, San Jose State University, MA (music), University of Minnesota; Doctoral Studies in piano, University of Minnesota.

Cléa Galhano, Executive Artistic Director, The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music

Ms. Galhano has a BM, College Santa Marcelina, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Composition Studies, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; MM, New England Conservatory of Music, Fulbright Scholar; Post Graduate Studies, The Royal Conservatory of Music - The Hague, Netherlands. Internationally renowned recorder player Clea Galhano is an accomplished performer of early, contemporary and Brazilian music. Galhano has performed in the United States, Canada, South America and Europe as a chamber musician.

Ivan Konev, The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music

Ivan Konev graduated from the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow. Ivan Konev came to study piano and Liberal Arts at Hamline University (Saint Paul, Minnesota) where he completed a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree in 2006. Ivan Konev is a prizewinner of local and international piano competitions including: Andorra International Piano competition, Corpus Christi International Piano competition, Schubert Club scholarship competition, University of Minnesota School of Music Concerto competition and Bell Scholarship Competition.

Dr. Juan Li

Bethel University Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music. B.A., Shanghai Conservatory of Music, 1998; M.Mus., University of Notre Dame, 2000; D.M.A., University of Minnesota, 2005.

Elena Piastro, The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music

Elena Piastro is from St. Petersburg Russia, she has been teaching for many years and brings experience and creativity to her methods. Many of Elena’s students have been winners of international competitions and her skills are apparent in her knowledge and her leadership as artistic director for ‘Around The Piano Duet Festival” and her “Chamber Room Program”. Her wishes are to organize future friendship concerts to Russia and Europe. Elena’s motto is “Around the piano with Love”.

Dr. Paul Wirth

Dr. Paul Wirth is a prominent figure in our national piano teaching community. He co-founded and is the Artistic Director of the Wirth Center for the Performing Arts in St. Cloud, MN. Chosen as the 2004-05 Teacher of the Year by Thursday Musical, he has taught numerous first prize-winning students of regional, national and international competitions - with twenty two of his pre-college students having performed over sixty solo performances with orchestra. Dr. Wirth maintains four studios: at the Wirth Center in St. Cloud, MN, Schmitt Music Center in Roseville, MN, Allen Organ Co. in New Hope, MN and at his home in St. Joseph, MN where he lives with his wife and greatest support, Kathy Wirth.



ANNOUNCERS & SPONSORS

Stephen Houtz (Announcer)

As an actor and singer, Houtz has performed with The Minnesota Opera, Commonweal Theatre, Chanhassen Theaters, and Park Square Theatre. Recently, he directed Impromptu and Peter Pan for Eden Prairie Players, State Fair and The King and I for Morris Park Players and Pinocchio and The Neverending Story for Parkview Center in Roseville. He has been music director for Commonweal Theatre Company, History Theatre, and St. Croix Festival Theatre. He is active in arts education and has a private voice and piano studio in his home in Edina.

Elzbieta Schaefer (Announcer)

Elzbieta Anna Schaefer, nee Pierzchalska, born in Warszawa (Warsaw, near Zelazowa Wola) Poland. Before she left Poland she was teaching extensively in Warsaw Music Schools as well as at the Academy. During her trips to London she participated and assisted in numerous Master Classes given by renowned musicians. After she made the USA her permanent country of residency she engaged in various music activities: pianist for Normandale College in premier performances of Orff's "Carmina Burana", private piano teacher in her Music Studio in Lakeville as well as choir director of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and recently as the Polish choir director of Holy Cross in Minneapolis. She is the author of two musical programs: "Chopin Letters and His Music" and "R. Schumann Letters and His Music".

The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music (www.thespcm.org)

The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music is a music-making community, offering high quality music education to all segments of society. Here the aspirations of students of all ages and abilities are met with a commitment to excellence through creative expression, disciplined training, and performance opportunities. Our motto is "Enriching lives through the joy of music."

The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music offers instrumental instruction in piano; jazz piano, guitar, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and voice. Instruction is designed to meet the needs of each student, taking into account the background of the individual, previous experience and musical goals. Lessons are taught by established and recognized artist-teachers who actively perform in the Twin Cities area.

Wells Piano (www.wellspianos.com)

Located on Grand Avenue in the historic heart of Saint Paul, Wells Pianos, owned by Kieran Wells, offers an elegant venue to audition special pianos at affordable prices. Offering highly personalized service, Wells Pianos caters not only to professional pianists, but to beginners and families as well. Kieran Wells is well known to the musical community through his participation and contribution to non-profit events and support of musical activities. Kieran Wells’ contribution to the Chopin Celebration at the Twin Cities Polish Festival helped to make it a successful event enjoyed by so many.


2) SECOND CONCERT: PW member tickets will be waived, students attend free


Eric Himy, pianist

Chopin Aeolian Harp Etude Opus 25 no.1
Etude in Thirds Opus 25 no 6
Black Key Etude Opus 10 no. 5
Revolutionary Etude Opus 10 no 12

Mazurka Opus 33 no 4
Mazurka Opus 33 no 2

Romance Larghetto from the Piano Concerto no. 1 Op.11

Fantaisie-Impromptu Op.66
Barcarolle Op. 60

Ballade no. 1 in g minor

intermmission

Liszt Au bord d'une source
Liebesträume
Valse Oubliée no 1
Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2

Debussy Poisson D'or
Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un Faune ( arr. Himy )

Chopin Mazurka Opus 54 no 2
Polonaise Op.53 "Heroïque"

Special Engagement - Salon Concert at the James J. Hill house with renowned concert artist, Eric Himy
Sunday 2/28 at 7pm


Wells Pianos has partnered with the Minnesota Historical Society to put on a special salon concert with renowned pianist Eric Himy. This is a special program not to miss, followed by a private tour of the historic Hill mansion. Reserve your seat today!



info/photos/recordings can be found on the site:
http://www.wellspianos.com/content/concerts-and-events