Third year of International Piano Competitions at ASU

TEMPE, Ariz. – Forty-two talented pianists from around the world make their way to Tempe in January as the ASU Herberger College of the Arts School of Music and the Arizona Young Artist Committee host the 3rd Bösendorfer & Schimmel USASU International Piano Competitions. The public is invited to witness fantastic talents tickle the ivories Jan. 6-12, 2008 in a competition that is considered one of the best in the U.S.

A total of 133 pianists from 19 countries applied to compete. Of those, 42 were selected by a screening committee comprised of five professional pianists to compete in the semi-final and final rounds. Winners are competing for a host of prizes, including $39,750 in cash awards, as well as performances with the Phoenix and the Mesa symphonies and solo recitals in Germany.

Pianists hail from Colombia, Israel, Poland and Taiwan – to name a few – and also come from some of the world’s most prestigious music schools, including: The Juilliard School; the Moscow Conservatory, the Shanghai Conservatory and ASU Herberger College School of Music.

“Our community can experience first hand the amazing and talented pianists from all across the globe at a top-tier competition,” says Baruch Meir, associate professor of piano in the ASU Herberger College School of Music and founder, president and artistic director of the competitions.

A special ticketed guest-artist concert with Anastasia Markina, gold medalist and winner of the first prize David Katzin Award at the1st Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition in 2006, kicks off the international event Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10-$15 and available by calling the Herberger College box office at 480.965.6447 or visiting: www.herbergercollege.asu.edu/tickets. David Dow Bentley III, “The People’s Critic” says, “Miss Markina performed Medtner’s extensive Sonata – Reminiscenza Op. 38 No. 1. With great passion, she displayed instant delicacy of technique, and seemed to be one with the keyboard, whether passages were gentle or intense. Her soothing artistry wove a web of mystery, capturing every subtle variation in the work.”

All recitals and concerts of the international event are held in the ASU Herberger College School of Music building, 40 E. Gammage Pkwy. in Tempe. The public can attend the free semi-finals and finals recitals. Tickets are $10-$15 for the Jan. 12 Winners’ Recital held at 7:30 p.m. in Katzin Concert Hall and are available by calling the Herberger College box office at 480.965.6447 or visiting: www.herbergercollege.asu.edu/tickets. For additional information about the competitions, visit:www.herbergercollege.asu.edu/pianocompetition. The seven-day competition schedule is as follows:

Sunday, Jan. 6

• 7:30 p.m.: Guest-artist concert with Anastasia Markina, gold medalist and winner of the 1st Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition in 2006, is held in Katzin Concert Hall at the ASU Herberger College School of Music building in Tempe. Tickets are $10-$15. To purchase, call the Herberger College box office at 480.965.6447 or visit www.herbergercollege.asu.edu/tickets.

Monday, Jan. 7

• 9 a.m.-9:40 a.m.: Ballots are drawn to determine competitors’ order for the 3rd Bösendorfer USASU International Piano competitors (Ages 19-32) in Katzin Concert Hall.
• 9:40 a.m.-noon.: Piano selection
• 1:30 p.m.-6:20 p.m.: Semi-final round

Tuesday, Jan. 8

• 3rd Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition (Ages 19-32) in Katzin Concert Hall
  • 9 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Semi-final round continued
  • 3:30 p.m.-5:40 p.m.
  • 7 p.m.-9:10 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 9

• 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: Registration for Semi-finalists of the 3rd Schimmel USASU Young Artists International Junior and Senior Piano Competitions in Cowley Lobby
• 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.: Ballots drawn to determine competitors’ order for 3rd Schimmel USASU Young Artists International Junior (Ages 13-15) and Senior (Ages 16-18) Piano Competitions in Recital Hall.
• 3rd Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition (Ages 19-32) in Katzin Concert Hall
  • 9 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Semi-final round continued
  • 3 p.m.: Finalists announced in Cowley Lobby
• 3rd Schimmel USASU Young Artists International Senior Piano Competition (Ages 16-18) in Katzin Concert Hall
  • 4 p.m.-7:50 p.m.: Semi-final round

Thursday, Jan. 10

• The 3rd Schimmel USASU Young Artists International Junior Piano Competition (Ages 13-15) in Katzin Concert Hall
  • 9 a.m.- 11:10 a.m.: Semi-final round
  • Noon: Finalists announced in Cowley Lobby
  • 4-6 p.m. Baruch Meir teaches master class for selected Bösendorfer and Schimmel semi-finalists.

Friday, Jan. 11

• The 3rd Schimmel USASU Young Artists International Senior Piano Competition (Ages 16-18) in Katzin Concert Hall
  • 8:30 a.m.- 11:15 a.m.: Final round
• The 3rd Schimmel USASU Young Artists International Junior Piano Competition (Ages 13-15) in Katzin Concert Hall
  • 1:30 p.m.-3:20 p.m.: Final round
  • 4 p.m.: Announce results for Junior and Senior Piano Competitions in Cowley Lobby
• The 3rd Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition (Ages 19-32) in Katzin Concert Hall
  • 5:15 p.m.- 7:45 p.m.: Final round

Saturday, Jan. 12

• The 3rd Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition (Ages 19-32) in Katzin Concert Hall.
  • 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Final round
  • 1 p.m.- 2:35 p.m.: Final round
  • 3:30 p.m.: Announce results for The 3rd Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition in Cowley Lobby
  • 7:30 p.m. Winners' Recital and Awards Ceremony for the 3rd Bösendorfer & Schimmel USASU International Piano Competitions. Tickets are $10-$15. To purchase, call the Herberger College box office at 480.965.6447 or visitwww.herbergercollege.asu.edu/tickets.

The Herberger College of the Arts at Arizona State University is dedicated to enriching its students and the community through innovative, collaborative and transforming experiences. Founded in 1964, Herberger College comprises four nationally ranked academic units: School of Music, School of Art, Department of Dance and School of Theatre and Film, plus the Arts, Media and Engineering Program and the ASU Art Museum. To learn more about the college, visit www.herbergercollege.asu.edu

Media Contact:
Wendy Craft 
480.965.0478
wendy.craft@asu.edu