I'm staying at the Best Western Inn on Fossil Bluff Drive. (About 6-7 miles from downtown)

I'll be coming in on the 20th, leaving on the 25th. I'm hoping to meet several PW people!

I somewhat agree with these statements you made, but I think you may be exaggerating a bit here. Yes, it's very advantageous to start young, have a good teacher(s), go to a good music school, have a high-grade instrument, and of course talent. But I don't believe any of these things are a necessity, especially when taking into account that plenty of people make it big in the business who lack a few or even several of those advantages. What it all comes down to is the individual and their drive. With enough passion, ambition, and raw talent, a person can most definitely overcome their unique obstacles and go on to become a successful soloist. At least that's the way I feel about it.

Oh, and about the need to be attractive...pshaw. :p To put it delicately, you're the first person I've ever heard equate pianists/violinists with "HOT"ness. Sure it helps, but Carnegie Hall ain't Hollywood.

Almost. The passion and ambition have to be matched by a certain work ethic. I've seen many students come and go who had plenty of passion, ambition, and talent, but who didn't actually do the work.

(I'm living proof of the opposite, by the way. I started late and have very little natural physical talent. But I practice a lot, listen a lot, and know how to teach, so I get to have a career in music.)

I echo Kreisler's comments in saying that daily hard work at the keyboard really is the key to so much success in piano playing. I started young and with a bit of talent was able to make a lot of progress throughout my teen years with only an hour of practice a day. At the time I was playing French horn as well so I only had limited time for both instruments.

Now I'm into my middle age pursuing a non-musical career, but I've been able to return to the piano with a lot of enthusiasm. What I realize is that how much I continue to progress and learn depends entirely on the amount of time I can devote to practicing every single day. I still have to devote time to basic technical exercises which I believe make a huge difference in how quickly I can overcome technical hurdles in new repertoire. On some days the exercises are a grind, but it's all part of the "program". Being a part-time teacher has also made me emphasize over and over to my students that working at the keyboard is the only way to become a pianist.

I got my Cliburn tix too! I'll be in Fort Worth 3 days from the 20th to the 22nd. We should definitely get together and socialize!

I think having a good teacher and been taught good is very important, especailly at the beginning of your training....also you have to work hard all the time in order to go all the way to top.

About good-looking, I think there is a little % for pomotion purpose, but yes it is true that Carnegie Hall ain't Hollywood.

By the time I ordered my Cliburn tickets, the only way to get tickets to the finals was to purchase tickets to the entire event (around $300).

So I'm now the proud owner of a seat in the left gallery box for every part of the Cliburn from prelims through award ceremony. Can't locate my seat on the Bass seating chart, so I assume it's six inches from the ceiling.

I also just found out that I got into the TCU/Cliburn Piano Institute for Amateurs which starts a few days after the Cliburn Competition ends. I have to play in two master classes. My teacher is bullying me to play a recital but I don't think I'm up to that yet.

So now, I'm trying to figure out how much of the Cliburn I can see and still have enough time to practice for the TCU Institute for Amateurs (without having Child Protective Services come after me).

It's a happy dilemma, but will involve delegating all the domestic trivia to my husband and kids (who are NOT very well brought up). Delegation is not my strong suit either, so an interesting time is guaranteed for all.

The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram has a new web site devoted to the Cliburn at this address:

http://www.dfw.com/multimedia/dfw/news/cliburn/cliburn.html

It includes profiles of the contestants, a trivia conest, and performance excerpts from past winners.

Wayne Lee Gay, the music critic for the Star-Telegram, attends every Cliburn performance, and writes some very astute reviews that appear in the next day's paper. He also accompanied the screening jury every step of the way when they auditioned this year's crop of Cliburn would-bes; his reviews of the auditioners are in the Star-Telegram's on-line archive of articles.

The Dallas Morning News also covers the competition, but not in the same depth. The NY Times, if my memory serves me right, didn't send a critic to the 2001 competition for some reason.

The S-T, because it's a sponsor of the competition, has been running a Cliburn article (or two) a day this month, and will give it front-section treatment once the competition starts (not to mention all the background articles about the contestants and their host families in the Living section). If you want to follow the Cliburn in print, the Star-Telegram is the paper to get your hands on.

So, with Brendan and Kreisler gone, who is going to police this forum?

Thanks! The competitors they seem to be most fond of (aka. their picks for finalists) are,

Stephen Beus[/b] - "With his combination of artistic instinct and natural charisma, he's a good bet to advance to the finals."

Alexander Kobrin[/b] - "Given his past record in competitions and his stylistic range, Kobrin has a good chance to go far at the Cliburn."

Alexey Koltakov[/b] - "His chances: Strong, assuming his Liszt and Prokofiev are in shape."

Roberto Plano[/b] - "If the jury appreciates his unique intensity, he's a good bet to go all the way to the finals."

Rem Urasin[/b] - "His record in previous competitions and his clear command of different styles indicate a potential finalist."

Joyce Yang[/b] - "Barring a major stumble, expect to hear Yang play Prokofiev's murderously difficult Piano Concerto No. 2 in the final round."

Don't get any ideas.

hehe,

[preps CommeLeVent suit ]

I will have my laptop with me. And I'll be watching YOU extra close!

rooting for Beus, blew my mind when I first heard him...hope he can make some noise.

One week! Yay, so excited.

I don't know if anyone has noticed yet, but they have posted the repertoire that each competitor will be playing at www.cliburn.org
Here's Koltakov's

Preliminary Recital:
Beethoven Sonata in D major, Op. 10, No. 3
Liszt Paganini Etude No. 3: La Campanella
Prokofiev Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82

Semifinal Recital:
Chopin Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58
Ruth Schonthal Sonata quasi un’improvvisazione
Saint-Saens/ Danse Macabre
Liszt-Horowitz
Liszt Reminiscences de Don Juan

Semifinal Chamber:
Dvorak Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81

Final Recital:
Liszt Sonata in B minor
Bach-Siloti Prelude in B minor
Prokofiev Sonata No. 7 in B-flat major, Op. 83

Final Concerti:
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Hey, Brendan, check out Davide Franceschetti's program; he's playing Brahms second in the finals!

Preliminary Recital:
Schoenberg Six Little Piano Pieces, Op. 19
Schumann Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
Beethoven Sonata in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”

Semifinal Recital:
Ruth Schonthal Sonata quasi un’improvvisazione
Scriabin Fantasy, Op. 28
Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
Scriabin Etude in D-sharp minor, Op. 8, No. 12

Semifinal Chamber:
Dvorak Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81

Final Recital:
Debussy Preludes, Book I:
Les collines d’Anacapri
Des pas sur la neige
Ce qu’a vu le vent d’Ouest
Chopin Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20
Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31
Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39
Scherzo No. 4 in E major, Op. 54

Final Concerti:
Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83

uh oh Beus is playing La Campenella...watch out guys he plays the f*** out of that.

To anyone going, please give a big hug and my best wishes to Soyeon!

koji (STSD)

courtesy of Wayne Lee Gay of the Dallas-Forth Worth Star Telegram:

"First, that those whom the gods wish to destroy are given major prizes at major competitions at too early an age. Let's hope that petite Joyce Yang[/b], the baby of this year's field at 19, is not too young for the honor that may be about to befall her. Yang approaches the piano almost shyly; you almost don't notice her as she slips onto the stage. She doesn't look, play or talk like any Cliburn gold medalist I've seen.

"But she may just become one.

"Yang auditioned in New York, just a few blocks from the Juilliard School, where she has studied since age ll. There, her scales were miracles of velocity and precision; in her Bach, voices intertwined with breathtaking clarity and distinction of character. In Liszt's Don Juan Fantasy, she displayed an insight into human character far beyond what any teen-ager should know.

"New York management firm ICM -- which manages Yo-Yo Ma, Daniel Barenboim, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Beach Boys -- already has spotted the gifted Korean and signed her. Her competition repertoire, crowned with Prokofiev's difficult but crowd-thrilling Piano Concerto No. 2, looks like a medalist's repertoire.

"Yang's strongest challenge will come from Stephen Beus[/b], 23, who's also now at Juilliard. Cliburn audiences will be amazed by Beus' almost uncanny resemblance to the young Van Cliburn. A clean-living former Mormon missionary who ignores the buzz of Manhattan and turns out the lights between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., Beus approaches the piano like a man in love, almost rushing to the keyboard to indulge in his romance with the music.

"During the international auditions, Cliburn jurors heard way too many renditions of Liszt's flashy Rapsodie Espagnole, but Beus was the one performer who made you realize what a wonderful piece of music it could be when played by the right pianist, the right way.

"But, truthfully, this field is so talented nearly any of the 35 pianists could be standing onstage June 5, getting a congratulatory hug from Mr. Cliburn.

...

"For now, look for Beus and Yang to battle down to the finals. The biggest hurdle for both will be the daunting semifinal round, the graveyard of many a bright career. That's when pianists must showcase their stamina, their ability to learn new music quickly and to collaborate with other musicians in chamber music. If Yang and Beus make it past that murderous obstacle, expect a titanic war of concertos in the finals.[/b]"

Sounds exciting!

Awesome, I hope I get to hear it. I have to leave Fort Worth on June 4th, so I'm going to miss the last two finalists plus the awards ceremony.

Hey...could everyone who's going and want to get together PM me with your cell number (and real name)? I'll put together a little list and send it out in the next day or two.

K.

Do people want to get together for some coffee, tea, or other beverages in the area around Bass Hall after tomorrow's late session? I would look forward to something like that.

I'm there all day tomorrow (1:30-10:30), so if any of you are there between sessions, I'm up for something then or in the evening (as long as someone can take me back to TCU). I'm sitting in the lower gallery, seat A41, so either call me or find me there.

BTW Kreisler, Julia will be there and she wants to meet you.

Okay...let's all get together after the late session tomorrow. I'll have my car, so I can run you back to TCU (provided you know how to get there...)

See you then!

Here's the recital line-up for tomorrow.
Fri, 1pm:
1. Marina Kolomiytseva, Russia
2. Davide Cabassi, Italy
3. Lilian Akopova, Ukraine
4. Albert Mamriev, Israel

Fri., 7:30pm
1. Sodi Braide, Nigeria/US
2. Grace Fong, US
7. Davide Franceschetti, Italy

The full recital schedule is in today's Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.

oops. Just realized Brendan posted the entire prelim recital schedule at the start of the thread.

I'm going to the 1 pm session of the prelims tomorrow - will have to wait to see where my kids register on the pandemonium meter before I know if I can stay for the 7:30pm session.

My seat is up in the right nosebleed section.

Upper Gallery, J3 here

See y'all tomorrow!

-K

ooooh may I receive a ride too Kreisler? I will reside about 2 miles from the Hall (on Beach Street). The hotel only provides complimentary transportation until 10 pm I believe. If not, that's fine too, 2 miles is entirely walkable

I'm in Orchestra row CC somewhere ... will update tonight with an actual seat number.