By Joseph Salas
Select winners of the Stecher and Horowitz New York International Piano Competition will return to Greenwich House Music School’s Renee Weiler Concert Hall for a series of three concerts from October through February.
The New York International Piano Competition is a weeklong biennial competition open to pianists, aged 16-21, of all nationalities. The competition is dedicated to providing artistic development, educational enhancement, seminars, master classes and performance opportunities to young pianists. Rather than the traditional competition model where the focus is on winning, The NYIPC provides an opportunity for contestants to perform, network, exchange information and cultivate a support system that will carry them through their pre-professional years.
Each contestant is judged by a jury of the most distinguished members of the international music community. Each young artist competes for a share of the $50,000 in cash prizes and concert appearances.
The competition is the creation of piano legends Melvin Stecher and Norman Horowitz, internationally acknowledged as one of the most distinguished duo-pianists of their generation. Together, they sparked a major revival of interest in the two-piano concert. After successful careers performing and operating an arts school in Nassau County, the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation and its New York International Piano Competition were founded in 1999 with a mission to mentor aspirants, helping them achieve their personal and professional goals through career guidance, artistic development, and performance opportunities.
The winners of the contest perform a series of concerts around New York State, but the founders are especially excited about the Greenwich House Music School concerts. “It brings us back to our roots, starting a music school, there’s an energy when we see someone master a piece” said Horowitz.
Greenwich House Music School Director Rachel Black is also thrilled to have the competition winners back. “At Greenwich House, we’re a true community arts school. The focus is on making music accessible to people of all skill levels,” Black said. “The Stecher and Horowitz Competition is built around the art of crafting music, not winning, and that is exactly what GHMS is all about.”
The free series begins on October 28th with NYIPC winner Leann Osterkamp. A nationally recognized pianist and composer, Osterkamp won her first competition at age eight and has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. The series continues on December 2 with Mackenzie Melemed and Hannah Sun on February 10. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at Greenwich House Music School, 46 Barrow Street.
For more information visit greenwichhouse.org/youngartist
