From our Members…

Dear Piano Students and Teachers:

I am excited to tell you about the first annual Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Competition on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at Sanford Performing Arts Center. This is an open competition for performers ages 15-30 who live or study in Maine. The application deadline is December 15.

Cash prizes will be awarded as follows: 1st Place – $2,000 / 2nd Place – $1,500 / 3rd Place – $1,000. In an effort to also attract performers at the high school level, we are also offering a $1,000 High School Honor Prize for the top high school student, which may be awarded in addition to a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prize. 

The Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Competition is part of the 1st annual Maine Piano Festival, a three-day celebration which includes the following events at Sanford Performing Arts Center:

Performance by Portland Piano Trio https://www.portlandpianotrio.com/
Friday, January 21, 2022  –  7:00PM

Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Competition
Saturday, January 22, 2022  –  1:00PM

Performance by Pianist Daniel Hsu – 2017 Cliburn Bronze Medalist
Sunday, January 23, 2022  –  3:00PM

(More information and tickets for the Maine Piano Festival will be available October 1, 2021.)

I have attached the flyer for the Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Competition to this message. Please share this competition with your students or any other pianists who may qualify to participate! 

The goal of the competition is to inspire and recognize young performers in Maine. To that end, we are trying to remove all barriers for competitors. There is no application fee and only those who live or study in Maine may participate. 

Thank you for your help in sharing this event!

Brett Williams
Sanford Performing Arts Center Director
bwilliams@sanford.org

The Bangor Symphony is auctioning off a beautiful Schimmel piano. It belonged to Marianne Lynch and Dr. Robert Hand.  Brian Catell appraised it at $40,000 and the opening bid is $15,000.  Please help spread the word.  Hopefully there is someone out there in the market for a piano. 

Here is the link with more information and pics:  https://event.auctria.com/3429ebb7-d101-4ea6-bdf4-916b8334de71/a780d600ec2e11e9ae081db830846aa5?24741f002eaa11ebaf6a2d8b31f82afe%2Fq=piano&24741f002eaa11ebaf6a2d8b31f82afe%2FcurrentPage=0&24741f002eaa11ebaf6a2d8b31f82afe%2FselectedItem=a68f8ff3-f34a-43de-8a63-af7dd57ec06b

Interested parties should email <steinwayb1935@gmail.com>.

I am seeking proposals from pianists who are interested in being hired to learn, perform, and make a video recording of one or more of the following piano solo works over the coming year.

– “Sonatine Spirit” • https://youtu.be/Tf-2H4BJh2E
– Suite for Piano, Movement 1 • https://youtu.be/n-NKcs076UI
– Suite for Piano, Movement 3 • https://youtu.be/CntmWYdOA9Y
– “Flow” • https://youtu.be/WZnG-AXTtLM
– “Flight” • https://youtu.be/1uhLIGILUn4 at 6:38

Requirements:
• pianists must either make the video themselves or must find someone to film and record their performance
• use an acoustic grand piano that is in tune and in excellent playing condition
• make a high quality audio recording
• video quality: good, but non-professional is acceptable (e.g., iphone with good lighting may yield acceptable results)
• use visually appealing venue/setting/location/backdrop
• the recording of a live performance (in front of an audience) is possible, as long as the performance is on par with a good studio take, the audio quality remains excellent (not overly distant or marred by noise), and the pianist’s facial expressions are easily visible
• camera angles: fixed camera angle is acceptable (in which case, face and hands must be visible), if multiple angles, then show hands during technical passagework
• the piece does not need to be memorized (you can read from the score in the video)
• before shooting the final video, the pianist must send a preliminary recording (audio) and incorporate feedback from the composer

Timeline:
• deadline for proposals: May 30, 2020
• follow-up for selected proposals will take place during June 2020
• project completion deadline: flexible/by agreement, preferably within 6-11 months of agreement

To submit a proposal, please fill out the form below.

For more information about the composer, visit http://www.franciskayali.com/
Please feel free to forward this page to pianists who may be interested.

Questions, comments, suggestions? E-mail franciskayali@gmail.com

Maine Arts Camp, located on the campus of Thomas College in Waterville, is looking for one or two part-time music teachers for July, 2020. One position involves conducting the chorus and playing the piano accompaniment for a musical theater. The other position involves teaching guitar, ukulele, and rock shop. One person could potentially fill both positions.

Interested teachers should contact Rick Mades at 561-865-4330, https://maineartscamp.com/maineartscamprick@gmail.com