Lukasz Yoder (center) with School of Music faculty judges (from left): Mary Cobb, Phyllis East, Dr. Anne Kissel, Eliran Avni and Fr. Sean Duggan.
A highly select group of young pianists competed in the final round of the Claudette Sorel Piano Competition on Nov. 3 in Rosch Recital Hall, with Lukasz Yoder from Los Angeles named as the first prize winner.
The pool of 30 talented applicants – the largest ever in the competition’s three-year history – was pared down to 12 finalists who each gave a 15-minute recital. The repertoire choice was left to the participant’s discretion but needed to demonstrate an idea, a passion or a theme.
Mr. Yoder, 18, received $2,500 and a recording of his competition performance as his prize, performing Sonata No. 2 by Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz. Yoder noted that his Polish heritage played a role in the selection he chose to play, adding that he hoped to introduce to the public a piece by a female Polish composer who is relatively unknown outside of her country. He said he felt a deep personal connection with the sonata. He described the work: “Written shortly after the end of Second World War, the sonata’s movements seem to contain some of the emotions associated with that war. The first movement is full of anger and fear- one can almost hear the bombs dropping and anguished screams of civilians. The second movement is full of devastating calm/tension, perhaps a break in the fighting where everyone can truly comprehend the extent of the destruction. The third movement, though called a toccata, is based on the Polish national dance Oberek, and is full of hope for a better future.”
Yoder began studying piano at the age of 4. A top prize winner of state, national and international competitions, Yoder has performed concerts on both coasts of the United States, Europe and Puerto Rico in venues including Zipper Hall of the Colburn School of Music, the Polish Embassy in Washington D.C., Poznan City Hall, the Działyński Palace, Kosciuszko Foundation Headquarters in New York City, the Steinway Society of Puerto Rico and Zelazowa Wola, Chopin’s birthplace. He has recorded for Polish radio and television, and been featured in Polish and American Press. His teacher is his mother, Roza Yoder.
Yoder also loves taking pictures of sunsets, skateboarding and surfing perfect waves. He noted, “When talking to non-musicians about the appeal of piano playing, I often compare it to surfing - when catching a wave, one feels he is connecting to something greater than himself - the power of the ocean, of nature. When playing piano, I feel a similar connection - a connection to decades and centuries of rich musical and cultural history that is much bigger and more powerful than I could ever be.”
From a musical family, everyone in Yoder’s family plays piano - his father also teaches and two brothers play competitively.
Five additional Sorel Special Prizes of $250, plus a recording of their competition performance, were awarded to other finalists including:
Evan Hu, 16, of Potomac, Md., for his performance of Lowell Liebermann's "Gargoyles." His teacher is Marjorie Lee.
Emily Wang, 15, of Woodbury, for her performance of York Bowen's “Toccata.” Her teacher is Stella Xu.
Stephanie Petinaux, 16, of Cranberry Township, Pa., for her performance of the Liszt “Rigoletto” Paraphrase. Her teacher is Marina Lupinacci.
Kelsey Lee, 17, of Summit, N.J., for her performance of Scriabin's 5th Sonata. Her teacher is Beatrice Long.
Samuel Maddox, 15, of El Paso, Texas, for his performance of Messiean's "Regard de l'Esprit Joie." His teacher is Dr. Esequel Meza.
Fredonia School of Music faculty members Eliran Avni, Mary Cobb, Fr. Sean Duggan, Phyllis East and Dr. Anne Kissel served as judges, and the event was live streamed.
The Claudette Sorel Piano Competition, open to all pianists ages 15 to 18, is named for pianist and SUNY Distinguished Professor Claudette Sorel, who taught at Fredonia, and is supported by a foundation she founded. The Sorel Organization intends to create opportunities for women in composition, conducting, piano, voice and film scoring and to keep musical excellence alive while expanding the boundaries for women in music.
