Deadline Jan. 15 for CSM, ArtLinks Piano Competition for High School Students
LA PLATA, Md. (Dec. 30, 2009)—High school pianists have until January 15 to apply to compete in the College of Southern Maryland and ArtLinks second annual Southern Maryland Regional Piano Competition, to be held April 24 and 25 at the college's Prince Frederick Campus. The high-level juried competition is open to any high school student within the region as an opportunity to promote piano performance and reward and encourage young pianists within Southern Maryland.
Committee member and CSM Professor Stephen Johnson said the competition is an opportunity for talented, young artists within Southern Maryland to showcase their level of musical expression and technical excellence as they perform on the college's "magnificent and absolutely superior, handcrafted Boesendorfer."
All pianists will audition on Saturday, April 24 on the piano, which is the centerpiece of the college's Ward Virts Concert Series and located at the Prince Frederick Campus. The piano was gifted to the community by the Ward Virts Piano Project Group as a tribute to the late Ward Virts, a talented concert trained pianist from the region and who died in 1993.
Sunday's performance on April 25 will feature the competition winners and a guest artist performing on the Boesendorfer. The finalists will also be presented with certificates and cash awards.
"This competition has a very special meaning for me," said Donna Wayson, chair of the piano competition committee. "Several years ago I was part of the Ward Virts Piano Project. Ward Virts was a talented concert trained pianist who grew up here in Southern Maryland. For me, Ward was an example of dedication, excellence and grace. In his life and his music he was an inspiration to those who knew him, and now through the Southern Maryland Regional Piano Competition that legacy continues."
Deadline to apply for the competition is January 15, 2010. Applications, as well as the competition rules are available at http://csmd.edu/SoMdPianoCompetition/ . For information on applications, contact Donna Wayson, 301-855-2966 or donnawayson(at)verizon.net.