Music is the Key: First piano pageant held this weekend – Austin Every day Herald

Music is the Key: First piano pageant held this weekend

Printed 7:03 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2022

The MacPhail Heart for Music-Austin shall be internet hosting the first-ever Austin Piano Competition from Oct. 7-9 that includes former proprietor of the Austin Symphony Orchestra’s Fazioli 308 live performance grand piano and former MacPhail trainer Victoria El-Sabo and Samantha Sinai.

The occasion, which organizers hope shall be a twice-a-year occasion, will characteristic concert events together with masterclasses and workshops for college kids and lecturers.

The three-day occasion will happen at MacPhail and Austin Excessive Faculty’s Knowlton Auditorium.

“We’ve got this stunning piano right here in Austin,” stated web site director Cheryl Berglund. “However extra importantly, it would collect piano college students locally and bigger — it’s open to Minnesota — simply to have a good time the piano. That is only a key studying expertise.”

Having a piano pageant, just like the one MacPhail will host, is a chance to have a good time not solely the Fazioli, however the piano usually in addition to showcase the fantastic thing about music.

“To me it’s an excellent genesis for music,” Berglund stated. “You’ll be able to contact the music and see the music and  watch your fingers.”

The masterclasses will consist of scholars taking part in the compositions of El-Sabo, who will stroll them by way of their efficiency and supply ideas on how she composes. In the meantime, the trainer workshops foster creativity for college kids and sources for lecturers to assist college students study compositions.

“Let’s speak about why and the way it got here to those,” Berglund stated of the compositions.

El-Sabo and Sinai shall be performing an off-the-cuff present, “It’s Amusing” from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 and the extra formal present, Highlight on the Massive Faz Live performance, is at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9. Sunday’s present shall be at Knowlton Auditorium. Tickets are $20 for Sunday’s present.

Each exhibits will characteristic authentic compositions by the duo carried out on piano, cello, voice and elk-skin drum.

On the identical time, an Austin kids’s refrain, that includes singers from IJ Holton and different neighborhood members will carry out together with two of El-Sabo’s compositions within the Sunday present.

Whereas highlighting the instrument of the piano with this primary ever pageant, Berglund additionally stated that it’s essential simply having these two artists in home for youths and lecturers alike.

“They’re wonderful performers, however what actually helps on this occasion is they’re actually human with trainer qualities and might clarify to those college students,” she stated. “They have been as soon as learners or at intermediate ranges.”

Working example is El-Sabo’s studying of the elk-skin drum, one thing she’s simply began taking part in.

“The truth is, Victoria is now finding out different devices and he or she’s bringing a drum alongside together with her that she’s model new too. At any age you’ll be able to study one thing new.”

This annual Piano Competition can be as soon as once more highlighting the music alternatives in Austin.

“I feel it’s nice with the sources,” Berglund stated. “Having this MacPhail and Austin Public Faculties partnership has allowed us to be a central hub for music in Austin. It fosters pleasure.”

One of many extra thrilling features of the pageant is certainly that future promise. Berglund stated that she hopes that the pageant cannot solely proceed sturdy into the long run, however maybe be a leaping off level for different alternatives together with a jazz-focused pageant subsequent April.

“We’ve got a second occasion in April and we plan to have these festivals twice a yr,” Berglund stated. “We plan to showcase different genres in music. We simply need to collect the neighborhood and present them our constructing and the attractive Knowlton Auditorium  is a useful resource and open to different alternatives.”

For extra info on the workshops and courses in addition to shopping for tickets, go to: www.macphail.org/occasions/macphail-austin-piano-festival-creative-workshops/