Piano Festival and Competition 2025 by BorderlandChopinFestival

Concerts, Masterclasses, Competition, Community Engagement

El Paso (TX), Las Cruces (NM), Cuidad Juarez and Chihauhua (MX)

UTEP Department of Music

Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall

Free and Open to the Public

The Borderland Chopin Story

The Borderland Chopin International Competition and Festival was created by Dr. Oscar Macchioni to promote the music of beloved Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, as well as other composers from unrepresented groups, in the Borderland region (West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and Chihuahua, Mexico). In addition to bringing artists of international caliber to the University of Texas at El Paso, we wish to engage the community through concerts, masterclasses, outreach, and musical instrument donations.

“Borderland” refers to three border cities, encompassing two countries and three states: El Paso in Texas, and Las Cruces in New Mexico, USA, and Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua, México. This is a rich cultural area known for its artisans and culinary wonders, mountains, and the Chihuahuan Desert beauty. Our host, The University of Texas at El Paso, boasts a beautiful, unique campus in Bhutanese architecture.

The Bonnie Brooks Family Foundation

Dr. Bonnie S. Brooks was an educational psychology professor at the University of Texas-El Paso and a long-time resident of El Paso, where she accumulated far too many honors and accomplishments to enumerate here. She served as President of the prestigious and influential El Paso Woman's Club. She was deeply involved in the classical musical arts of El Paso, presiding over the El Paso Pro-Musica Guild and enthusiastically supporting the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and Opera El Paso. She was an accomplished pianist whose performances were enjoyed by many in the El Paso area.

After the passing of her first husband, her life of travel, exploration, and adventure continued with her marriage to Lewis Peeples in 2007. At their summer residence in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, Bonnie was a major donor to the Rails-to-Trails program, whose reconstruction of 'Bonnie's Trestle' was accomplished on her property in 2019.

Her hospitality was legendary, and many friends and relatives were regular visitors in the cool mountains of Cloudcroft, where they enjoyed Bonnie's sparkling personality, piano music, boundless enthusiasm, and love of people. Bonnie died unexpectedly in San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 3, 2020. She is deeply missed and never forgotten by the many whose lives she touched. Her legacy lives on with the Bonnie Brooks Family Foundation, managed by Lewis Peeples. The Borderland Chopin International Competition is honored and extremely grateful to be endowed by this Foundation.

Dr. Oscar Macchioni

University of North Texas

Founder and Artistic Director

Adjudicator

Masterclass

Adjudicator-Guest

Texas Tech University

Adjudicator and Masterclass Guest Artist

University of Michigan

Adjudicator-Guest Artist

Dr. Daniel del Pino

Hyunjin Roh

Takeshi Nagayasu

The Borderland Chopin Festival Piano Competition, Masterclasses, Lectures, and Community Engagement activities, an annual festival honoring the life and works of Frédéric Chopin and other composers. It is a community event featuring the most talented young pianists from the Borderland. The Festival is generously sponsored College of Liberal Arts and Department of Music

Friday, March 21

Outreach

5:00

Dr. Daniel del Piano (Texas Tech

Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall

Saturday, March 22

10:30

Dr. Oscar Macchioni (U

Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall

7:30 p.m.

Hyunjin Roh & Takeshi Nagayasu

Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall

Sunday, March 23

2:30 p.m. Winners Recital and Awards Ceremony

Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall

Saturday, March 22

7:30 P.M

Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall

Prize Winners of the 2024 Borderland International Chopin Competition

PROGRAM

Sonata K.208 and Sonata K.29 Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)

Impromptu No.2

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 in B-flat minor Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

I. Grave - Doppio movimento

II. Scherzo

III. Marche funèbre, Lento

IV. Finale, Presto

Takeshi Nagayasu

2024 Borderland Chopin International Competition, Third Prize Winner Intermission

Variations on a Theme by Rode, op. 33 “La Ricordanza” Carl Czerny (1791–1857)

Piano Sonata in C Minor, Hob. XVI/20 Franz Josef Haydn (1732–1809)

I. Moderato

II. Andante con moto

III. Finale: Allegro

Firebird Suite (arr. Guido Agosti) Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)

Hyunjin Roh

2024 Borderland Chopin International Competition, Second Prize Winner

Guest Artists

Oscar Macchioni, an Argentine International Steinway Artist, is a pianist, professor, author, and adjudicator. He has performed across Europe,Asia,andtheAmericasandisasoughtafter adjudicator for piano competitions and festivals. He has published a book with the College Music Society and articles on piano pedagogy in the American Music Teacher and Piano Pedagogy Forum. He is a frequent collaborator for several of the Frances Clark Center and TMTA initiatives. Macchioni has released three albums featuring Latin American music. He received the prestigious University of Texas Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award and was inducted into UTEP's Academy of Distinguished Teachers. He studied piano in Argentina, Poland, and the USA, and is currently a tenured Associate ProfessorattheUniversityofNorthTexas.

Daniel del Pino is a leading Spanish pianist, performing across five continents in renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Salle Gaveau, and Taipei’s National Concert Hall. He has collaborated with major orchestras, including RTVE, Valencia, Galicia, and the Bucharest Philharmonic, under distinguished conductors. A frequent guest at international festivals, he has premiered works by composers like José Zárate and Nikolai Kapustin. Born in Lebanon in 1972, he studied in Morocco, Spain, and the U.S. with mentors such as Joaquín Achúcarro and Peter Frankl. He has adjudicated international competitions and given masterclasses worldwide. His performances are widely broadcasted, and his recordings span Chopin, Granados, and Kapustin. Since2010,hehas directed Cita con losClásicos inGuadarramaandSierraMusical around Madrid. Daniel del Pino is an Artist-inResidence and Associate Professor of Piano at TexasTechUniversity.

Takeshi Nagayasu,fromJapan,isa26-year-old pianist currently pursuing a doctorate degree in piano performance at University of Michigan with Logan Skelton. He previously earned a Master’s degree from Yale School of Music and a Bachelor’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music. His former teachers include Vladimir Feltsman, Melvin Chen, Boris Berman, Joseph Kalichstein, Matti Raekallio, Antonio PompaBaldi,andXiaoheXie.Prizeshehaswoninclude Jacob Flier Competition during the Pianosummer at New Paltz, MTNA Competition in Michigan, and the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition. He is also a recipient of scholarship from Feltsman Piano Foundation in 2021 and Evelyn Bonar Storrs Scholarship from theMusicalClubofHartfordin2023.

Pianist Hyunjin Roh started to stand out in music from an early age and has been in the spotlight of the domestic music industry by winning more than 40 competitions. She also received the Semi-finalists Award at the 2021 Leeds International Piano Competition, and began to draw attention from overseas. The winnerofthe45thJoongangMusicCompetition in South Korea, Roh has a variety of tones and deep expression. She received favorable reviews, with comments such as "healthy and resonant sounds, and uses her own variety of tones,"and "shehasa largescale and subtlety that does not miss detailed expressions." She has constantly communicated with the audience through performances and solo performances at many halls. She studied with Heesung Joo at Seoul National University. She isstudyingforaMasterofMusicdegreeatNew England Conservatory of Music with WhaKyungByun.

Contestants in alphabetical order

Anthony Arriola (A)

Sebastian Arriola (C) Luis Basurto (C)

Sophia Cao (B)

Judy Caranto (C)

Jane Caranto (C)

Cindy Chen (A)

Joy Chen (A)

Elena Delap (C)

Alex Flores Piña (A)

Steven Haluschak (B)

Noah Hsieh (C)

Charlotte Jackson (C)

Rebekah Li (B)

William Liang (B)

Andy Lin (A)

Angel Lin (B)

Axel Lin (C)

Julieta Martinez Estrada (C)

Ethan Pan (B)

Sophia Park (A)

Daniel Ramirez (D)

Pablo Raposo (D)

Yael Romero (D)

Teachers

Jorge Cuamba

Andrea Davis

Anna Habicht

Dr. Dena Kay Jones

Joe Lecher

Claudia Luna

HaeJi Lee Romine

Manuel Sandoval

Manuel Sandoval Rivera (D)

Ittai Schwieger (C) Beatrice Söderberg (D)

Francisco Soto (B)

Oliver Su (B)

Isabella Tosado Diaz (C)

Andrew Turza (C)

Josefina Villegas (A)

Bradly Yoshawirja (A)

Mynameis SebastianArriola.Iam 15 years old and in Tenth Grade with Seton Home Study. I began playing the piano at age 5 with Gregory Marquez until his sudden passing in August 2022. I was blessedtohavefoundMrs.Romine whobeganteachingmethereafter.

My name is Anthony Arriola. I am 10 years old, in 5th Grade and home schooled. I have been playing the piano since I was 5 years old with Gregory Marquez until his sudden passing in August 2022. I was blessed to have found Mrs. Romine who began teaching methereafter.

Luis Basurto started Piano at 8 years old in 2018 with professor Manuel Sandoval, has played recitals in Juarez at the CUDA, the Border Cultural Center and the Gracia Pasquel theater of the Juarez University (UACJ). He has also played two recitals at the Northern Cultures Museum in CasasGrandes,Chihuahua.

Sophia Cao is a 13 year old. She has been playing piano for around 8 years. She is in 7th grade at Hornedo Middle. During her free time, she likes to make crafts and drawings. Apart from piano, she played violin for 3 years in her school’sorchestra.

Judy Caranto, senior, has been playing piano for 9 years. She has participated in many different piano competitionsandevents.Asidefrom piano, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family andfriends.

JaneCaranto isin9thgradeandhas been studying piano for 7 years. She enjoys participating in various piano competitionsandevents.Asidefrom piano,sheenjoysattendingherKung Fuclasses,spendingtimewith her

Competitors Bios

family and friends, reading, baking, anddrinking boba.

My name is Cindy Chen. I'm in 5th grade at Lundy Elementary School and have been learning piano with Ms. Anna since I was 5. My favorite Composer is Chopin. I also like reading and playing double bass in theschoolorchestra.

My name is Joy Chen. I'm in 3rd grade at Lundy Elementary School and have been learning piano with Ms. Anna since I was 6. My favorite Composer is Chopin and Hazel Cobb. I also like reading and drawing.

Elena Delap is a sophomore from Coronado High School and enjoys violin, voice and piano. She loves spending time with her parents, five brothers,andadorablelittlesister.

AxelFloresPiña studyattheCultural CenteroftheArtsattheAutonomous University of Ciudad Juárez. He currently studies with the teacher Manuel Sandoval, a graduated from UNAM. He played recitals at the University Cultural Center (UACJ), the Cultural Center of the Borders, and the Ciudad Juárez Museum of Art.

Steven-Demitri Haluschak is a nativeofElPaso. Heenjoysthestudy of music and especially likes the beautiful music of Chopin. He is a baseball enthusiast and plays on three baseball teams. His primary position is catcher. Steven-Demitri also enjoys spending time in the outdoors. He especially likes to go fishingwithhisfather.

I am Noah Hsieh, a 9th grader with a dream of becoming a professional pilot.Iamacaptainofaroboticteam of Franklin High school. Beyond engineer, classic music is also a part ofmylive.

My name is Charlotte Jackson. I am an 11th grader at Coronado High School andI have been playing piano for the past 6 years. I am extremely dedicated to and passionate about music.

Rebekah Li has been taking piano lessonswithMrs.Habichtfor6years. My name is William Liang and I have been learning piano for almost 6 years and have enjoyed playing. Some of my hobbies include swimming and reading novels. As a pianist, I like playing Chopin and Toccatas. As a swimmer, I keep improving my skills and have won multipleawards.

My name is Alex Lin and I have been playing the piano for 8 years now. Piano has always been a passion for me since I heard of it in 1st grade. I like to play the piano because it's a way to express myself and I love the way itsounds.

Mynameis AndyLin.Iam10yearold andI’min4thgrade.Istartedplaying pianowhenIwas8yearsold.Ialsodo swimming andIlikevideogames.

My name is Angel Lin. I am 13 years old. I have been playing the piano since I was 11 years old. I also play the violin in my school orchestra and Iswim.

My name is Julieta Martinez Estrada, I am 16 years old, originally from Torreón Coahuila, I have been living inCiudadJuárezfor5years.My father, Mario Martínez, taught me to playthepiano.IalsostudiedwithFlor Fierro, Jaime Borjas, and Manuel Sandoval.

Ethan Pan is a 7th grade middle school student at Hornedo Middle School in El Paso, Texas. Originally from Houston, he continues his piano studies in El Paso with Joseph Lecher and also plays the trombone.

Sophia Park, a 5th grader, began piano at 6 and won the Baroque Competition in 2022 and 2025. She brieflypausedforotheractivities but couldn’t give up her passion for music. Now back to piano, she is excited to continue her journey by participating in the Borderland Chopin Festivaltoday.

Nathaniel Ramirez has been studying piano for almost a decade. Formerly under the instruction of Elena Castaneda, he now receives private lessons at UTEP. He’s performed with the 2022 El Paso AllRegion orchestra, received a masterclass from pianist MarcAndre Hamelin, and has performed innumerouslocal recitals.

Pablo Raposo is a pianist from El Paso, Texas. He started learning at the age of six with Mrs. Angelica Cano. He has competed in the UTEP Concerto Competition and has performed in Vipiteno, Italy, with theORFEOMusicFestival.

YaelRomero startedonhispathasa pianist at 5. He previously won his category in the Chopin Borderland Competitionin2023andparticipated in a masterclass by Columbia professorMagdalenaBaczewskaand winners' recital. His performances extend to recitals supporting local projects regarding the production of affordablepianos.

Manuel Sandoval is an academic exchange student at the UNAM studyingwithMtro.ArturoUruchurtu. He participated in a recital and masterclass at the NMSU and UACJ binationalpiano meetings.

IttaiSchwieger livesinElPaso,Texas and is seventeen years old. His interests include piano, soccer, hiking,andreading.Heisalsoa

Christian,andenjoys going to church on Sundays as well as praying and reading his Bible. Ittai has been playing thepianofornineyears.

Beatrice Söderberg received her Bachelor’s Degree from Aaron CoplandSchoolofMusicasastudent ofProfessorUbaldoDiaz-Acosta.She currently studies with Dr. Dena Kay Jones at UTEP. She recently won UTEP’sConcertoCompetition.

Francisco Soto. I have loved the piano since I was very young. I was mostly self-taught until I was fortunateenoughtobeacceptedasa student of Dr. Macchioni just before my 11th birthday. I am now a student of Mrs. Anna Habicht. I love playing thepiano andbaseball.

OliverSu isaveryquiet,reservedand a very serious young boy who has been a dedicated piano student for pastfiveyears.Hehasparticipatedin our Solo and Sonatina Festivals, EPMTA perfomance contest and the BaroqueContest.

forthemiddleschoolband.Heisalso a skilledchess player!

My name is Isabella Tosado-Diaz. I am a 12th grade homeschooler and have played piano for 7 years. I hope to become a professional pianist, composer,andtocontinuetogrowas a musician as well as share my love formusic.

Andrew Turza is a piano student learning to increase his skills and mastery under Mrs. HaeJi Lee Romine.

Josefina Villegas is a 5th grader at Mesita Elementary School. She currently studies piano with Anna Habicht.Josefinaisalsoamemberof the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra and has recently begun learning the violin. Outside of music, she enjoys reading, ballet and swimming.

BradleyYoshawirja isafifthgraderin Polk Elementary's dual language program. At five, he began studying piano with Anna Habicht. He placed 3rd in the 2023 Borderland Chopin Festivalandwas afinalistin the2024 EPSMF Competition for Young Musicians. Bradley also loves golf, tennis,andbirdwatching.

Join us for the El Paso Symphony Orchestra’s FABULOUS SEASON FINALE

Friday, April 25 & Saturday, April 26, 2025, 7:30 pm Plaza Theatre

Bohuslav Rattay, Conductor

Kiron Tellian, Piano

Winner of the 2024 Borderland Chopin International Piano Competition

PIANO COMPETITION AND

ELIGIBILITY

Open to all talented pianists in El Paso, Texas, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico. UTEP and the BCF are not responsible for participants’ visas, travel and lodging. Category D participants must be currently enrolled as a piano major or minor at a university or conservatory in El Paso, Las Cruces, Ciudad Juarez, or Chihuahua, only. Proof of enrollment is required.

PRIZES continue

• In addition to cash awards, winners of the 1 Prize in each category will participate in a masterclass by our guest artist Dr. Daniel del Piano (TTU) on Friday, March 21 at 5:00 p.m., and perform at the Winner’s Recital on Sunday, March 23 , at 2:30 p.m. Both events will be held at UTEP's Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall.

• Winners of the 2 Prizes in each category will participate in a masterclass by UNT piano professor Dr. Oscar Macchioni on Saturday, March 22 1:30 p.m. This event will take place at UTEP's Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall.

Note: For 1st Prize Winners in Categories B, C, and D, tuition prizes to summer programs, cannot be cashed out. If a winner is not accepted into the program or cannot attend the program in the summer 2025, they forfiet the prize. are required to check the festival’s repertoire admission requirements.

REPERTOIRE

• Repertoire selection is open and unrestricted but must include at least one original work by Frédéric Chopin

• All pieces must be performed by memory.

• List titles of works with movements (if applicable), composer’s full name and dates, in the order of performance in the video. For example: Sonata Op. 2 No. 3, II Adagio, Ludwig van Beethoven (1770

• Participants can submit separate video files for each selection but they must be unedited. Each video must clearly show the hands, face, and body of the performer. Camera placement should be approximately 5 feet from the piano on the treble side and recorded in landscape (horizontal) orientation.

• Each video file should be uploaded to a YouTube or Vimeo account (public or unlisted) and submitted by a URL link.

• Each video file must list in this order: first and last name of the participant, the category in which they are participating in uppercase, and the composer’s last name, and name of the piece.

• We will not accept edited videos or emailed video files.