4 minute read
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE RIGHT HERE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND
from 2023 HHIPC Program
by monahuff
2023 MARKS THE SIXTH YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION, WHICH IS A GOOD TIME FOR A RETROSPECTIVE.
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“Our Hilton Head International Piano Competition is one of the real highlights of the HHSO’s season. It’s the way most people in the music world first hear about our orchestra and the amazing musical culture we have nurtured in the Lowcountry—it was for me. The addition of a regular young artist cohort in 2011 has added a brilliant facet to the competition as we provide seminal opportunities for teenagers to shine in a professional setting. The technique and artistry of these young musicians is breathtaking, and we’ve been thrilled to watch so many careers skyrocket after their experiences here. I especially cherish the time we rehearse with the orchestra—when our young soloists first hear the majesty of the full orchestra blending with their sound, and our musicians are sparked by the virtuosity and exuberance of our top performers.”
John Morris Russell, Music Director
First held in 2011, much thought went into whether adding a young artist format (ages 13–17) to the existing HHIPC schedule was the right course. Originated in 1996, the competition for pianists ages 18–30 was a well-established success and growing in stature. The old adage, “If it ain’t broke…” was ringing in the ears of the HHSO Board of Directors when Competition Director Nina Rodman broached the idea.
It took a couple of years, but fortunately the crusaders for youth prevailed. An event equal in stature to the “adult” competition fit perfectly with the HHSO’s commitment to youth—a central part of the Orchestra’s mission. It also differentiated us from most of the other big competitions because at that time, only Bachauer was doing a young artists competition. This changed when the Cliburn and Cleveland got on board. The risk of failure for a brand extension is less than launching a new brand, and the HHIPC’s shoulders proved to be both broad and strong. As YA 13–17 gained its footing, the 18–30 Competition continued to thrive.
Mona Huff, HHIPC Competition Chair in 2011, had the honor of staging the first YA. With help from a dedicated and experienced committee, the new competition began to take shape. Mona shared what they were thinking about in the early days. There were practical issues such as finding host families whose homes could accommodate both a competitor and a chaperone, potential difficulties for teenagers obtaining visas, and other logistical hurdles. Hovering in the background was this concern—would HHIPC audiences be skeptical about YA 13–17 because they secretly wondered, “How good could such young pianists be?” Fortunately, word got around, and YA audiences began to grow in size.
Who
ARE
2020 Competitors
THESE TEENAGERS WHO FLY HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD TO PLAY FOR US EACH MARCH?
They Are Citizens Of The World
YA competitors have represented 18 countries so far: the US and Canada, multiple places in the Far East (China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Macao), with a few western and eastern European nations and one country in the Middle East thrown in for good measure. To date, the five HHIPC YA first prizewinners include three North Americans (two from the US, one from Canada), one from China and one from Italy.
THEY ARE SERIOUS STUDENTS
Many were already associated with a major conservatory, such as Juilliard Pre-College, for example.
THEY ARE VETERAN COMPETITORS
As young as 13, you would be forgiven if you assumed the HHIPC was their first big competition. It wasn’t.
THEY ARE AMAZINGLY ACCOMPLISHED
The majority had been prizewinners at multiple competitions before coming here. They tackled much of the same repertoire as the older cohort. Liszt’s Transcendental Etudes—why not? And, a surprising number had already made their Carnegie Hall debut—including nine of this year’s 20!
It would take many pages to report on the subsequent accomplishments of these amazing young artists—a 13-year-old in 2011 would be only 25 today, with their entire careers in front of them.
A FEW TIDBITS:
The majority have since graduated from top conservatories such as the Curtis Institute and The Juilliard School, and/or are still in school pursuing masters and doctoral degrees. Ray Ushikubo, 2017’s first prizewinner, earned degrees from Curtis in both piano and violin. 2013’s first prizewinner, Leonardo Colafelice, is teaching at a major European conservatory.
They are prizewinners in dozens of the top international competitions (the Cliburn Junior, Young Concert Artist International Auditions, Cleveland, Bachauer, and many others). Drew Petersen, 2011’s second prizewinner, won first prize at the 2017 American Pianists Association Competition, and received the coveted Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2018.
They have released recordings. Drew Petersen was also named the youngest ever Steinway Artist at 25, keeping company with other pianists you may recognize (Daniel Barenboim, Emanuel Ax, Olga Kern, Yuga Wang, Lang Lang). Three other YA alums have been named Young Steinway Artists: Ray Ushikubo, Kasey Shao and Elliot Wuu.
There is crossover between the two HHIPC competitions. Several YA competitors have returned to compete in the 18–30 Competition (allowed for all but the first YA prizewinner). Two went on to win the 18–30 Competition—Chaeyoung Park in 2019 and Jaeden Izik-Dzurko in 2022. Both are already on their way toward promising careers.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
The inaugural YA competition took an interesting approach to introducing competitors. Instead of submitting a traditional bio for the program book, competitors answered the question “What does music mean to you?” As you marvel at their deep and eloquently expressed thoughts, think about it— these were teenagers at the time!
Music to me is the deepest and most universal language humanity knows. When I perform, I feel able to take my audience away from their daily routine to experience a beautiful and meaningful moment.
I love communicating with the audience through music. It’s like building a bridge to their heart. Music helps heal sickness and pain and is powerful enough to change behavior and attitudes. I know that my purpose in life is to understand the world, and much beyond it, through music.
None of these young people had taken even the first step on a career path when they came to Hilton Head, but they were already thinking about what they could give their audiences, and how to improve themselves, and the world, through music. Our event has proved to be a steppingstone in that direction. HHIPC audiences can be proud that we entered these young artists’ lives for a brief moment, bestowing our love and encouragement. We fervently hope that they continue to receive the support that started them on their musical journeys, and they continue to flourish.
