Piano Music of Russian Composers

Various artists

Friday, November 1, 2019 @ 6:30pm – 9:30pm (PDT)

Stage 7 Pianos, Kirkland, WA, United States

$10-$20 suggested donation

Scott Fisher Jr. has received awards in several competitions including the Gourmet Music & Culture Club competition, The Outstanding Artist Competition, and the 2018 Chopin NW Festival. He was also the accompanist for a classical opera concert recently. Scott is playing Sonata No. 6, Movement #1 by contemporary composer Sergei Prokofiev. Scott has grown to appreciate the different styles this masterpiece shows, from the quiet approaches to the forceful openings.

Samuel Yi is an eighth grader and has been playing piano for about seven years. He enjoys classical music that sounds smooth and nice. He has performed in many competitions and recitals. Samuel chose this piece because of its classical sound and variations on a signal theme. The composers, Mily Balakirev and Mikhail Glinka wrote this piece based on the concept of variations on a signal theme. Both composers went to St. Petersburg and the Free School of Music and studied under Russia’s greatest musicians at the time. The music was written just before they graduated from the school. This work of art bases the whole song on a single theme.

Matthew Yi has been playing piano for 8 years. He is a sophomore in high school. He enjoys playing jazz piano and has performed with his middle school and high school jazz bands. Matthew selected this piece because of its emphasis on rhythm and its jazzy feel. The composer, Nikolai Kasputin, is considered one of the pioneers of the Soviet jazz scene. His music combines jazz elements with classical form.

I'm Owen Zhang, an eighth grader this year. I have been playing piano for 8 years now, and while it has its ups and downs, it has been an amazing experience. I also participate in other extracurricular activities such as swimming and math. In my free time, I read, code, and occasionally play with my rubik's cubes.

Jiwon Kim has received the Helen Crowe Snelling Memorial Scholarship Award. Since then, she has channeled her love for music to give back to her community in numerous Musical Gift Recitals. In Junior festivals, Jiwon gained concert skills by performing semiannually as a member of the Nicole Kim Junior Music Club. Presently, she is playing Prelude in B Minor Op.11, No.1 and Prelude Op.36 No.3 by Anatoly Lyadov, which gave her newfound appreciation for the dynamic structure of this piece.

My name is Bao-Vy Apple Tran. I am in 8th grade and I like cookies. Bao-Chi is my sister, if you were wondering. This piece by Prokofieff is a very spunky Russian piece, which is a style I don’t normally play but it was fun to learn and practice. This piece gave a lot of trouble, so I sincerely hope you enjoy it.

My name is Bao-Chi Ada Tran. I like chips and puff pastry or any French food. My sister is Bao-Vy and I really like reading. I’m in 4 grade Advanced Learning and I also like riddles. I’m playing 2 pieces so I hope you’ll understand if I make any mistakes.

Collin Kim is an accomplished pianist and has been studying piano for over 11 years. His passion for the piano has lead him to multiple achievements. These include placing 1st or 2nd in the Snohomish Sonata piano competition from 2015-2017, receiving 1st place in the Snohomish Scholarship competition in 2016, and representing the Lake Washington Chapter at the State convention in 2019. Today he will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions in Rachmaninoff's fiery Moments Musicaux no. 4 and the harmonious Prelude Op. 23 No. 4 in D major.

Written in 1912, Sergei Prokofiev’s Toccata in D minor is his only such piece. However, the “toccata line”, one of five lines he identified as guiding his style, appears throughout his other works; it is characterized by repetitive rhythms seeming to be driven by a motor.

Anna finds this piece quite physically demanding yet exciting to play. Through her study, she has learned to capture a new intensity in her performance.

Concert program for Russian Music on 11/1/2019

Bao Chi Tran Sonatine no.1, Op.13, (1930) Dimitri Kabalevsky

1st Mvt: Allegro assai e lusingando

3rd Mvt: Presto

Owen Zhang 10 piano pieces, Op.12 (1906-1913) Sergei Prokofieff

No.10, Scherzo

Jiwon Kim Prelude Op.36, no.3 (1895)

Prelude in B minor, Op.11(1885) A K. Lyadov

Matthew Yi Concert Etude Op.40 (1984) Nicolai Kapustin

No.1 Prelude

Bao Vy Tran Piano Sonata No.2, Op.14,(1912) Sergei Prokofieff

4th Mvt: Vivace