The Fredonia School of Music has invited 10 gifted, young pianists to campus to compete in the Final Round of the Claudette Sorel Piano Competition.
The competitors have all successfully completed the initial round of the competition, including submitting a video performance and a written response about how and why they chose their repertoire, and why playing the piano is important to them.
The Final Round will take place on Sunday, Feb. 26, beginning at noon in Rosch Recital Hall, and is free and open to the public. Each competitor will perform a 15-minute program in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. Judges include School of Music faculty Eliran Avni, Fr. Sean Duggan, Mary Marden Cobb and Phyllis East. After the performances, there will be a brief recess and reception, immediately followed by the presentation of awards. The First Place winner will receive $2,500 cash and a half-hour recording session with an engineer in the recording studios. An additional $1,500 cash prizes will also be awarded. All contestants will receive a recording of their Final Round performance.
"We are delighted to invite 10 young talents to share their talent and vision with us at the Final Round of the inaugural Claudette Sorel Piano Competition," commented Dr. Avni. "The jury was very impressed with their high level of artistry, unique programming ideas, and deep passion for piano performance. Audiences are in for a thrilling afternoon of ten 15-minute recitals by these wonderful talents, with music ranging from Bach to Khachaturian."
The competition is named for pianist and SUNY Distinguished Professor Claudette Sorel, a former member of the School of Music faculty, and is supported by the The Elizabeth & Michel Sorel Charitable Organization Inc., established in 1996 by Ms. Sorel. The Sorel Organization’s aim is 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.
“The Fredonia School of Music believes in nurturing young talent and original voices," said Avni. "We are happy to partner with the Sorel Organization to honor Claudette’s contributions to the piano world, and to shine a light on young pianists who are passionate about performing, committed to creating original programming, and enthusiastic about finding new ways of communicating with their audience."
For more information, visit www.fredonia.edu/music.
