Amateur Pianists Get A Chance To Shine
An amateur, by definition, does something for love, rather than money.
But Phred Meller, creator of the Northeastern Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, is guessing that the 25 hobbyists who will compete in Ridgewood Thursday through June 3 wouldn't be averse to a few greenbacks. So he's offering a $1,000 first prize in this first-ever-event, co-sponsored by New York's Faust Harrison Pianos.
"Competition is a way to get people to play, and to get people to come out and see it," says Meller, a Hillsdale piano instructor. He's counting on the old-fashioned American love of gamesmanship to draw audiences to this three-day event at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood.
The folks who have been brushing up on their Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, and Satie to prepare for their big weekend include an ophthalmologist, a librarian, a retired photographed, a psychiatrist, and a homemaker. None is under the age of 35, and one contestant, Meller says, is 80. The contest, patterned after similar events in Paris and Texas, is a way to acknowledge the dedicated dabbler - the backbone of the piano business, after all, but rarely acknowledged in a culture where raw talent seems to be appreciated only in the young. "In the piano world, it's very youth oriented," Meller says. "You can't even get into most competitions once you're 30. "When you want youth, you watch 'Baywatch.' But when you listen to Beethoven, you want wisdom, sensitivity, and perception. Those things come with maturity, not youth."
Each of the 25 contestants - some from as far away as Illinois and Virginia - will play a 10-minute piece for Thursday's elimination round, to be judged by a blue-ribbon panel of pianists, composers, and Juilliard experts.That first group will be whittled down to eight for next Friday's round and then to three for the June 3 showdown.
"It's one thing to play in the sanctity of your living room," Meller says. "It's another to play in a room full of people. That's how you separate the wheat from the chaff.
But Phred Meller, creator of the Northeastern Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, is guessing that the 25 hobbyists who will compete in Ridgewood Thursday through June 3 wouldn't be averse to a few greenbacks. So he's offering a $1,000 first prize in this first-ever-event, co-sponsored by New York's Faust Harrison Pianos.
"Competition is a way to get people to play, and to get people to come out and see it," says Meller, a Hillsdale piano instructor. He's counting on the old-fashioned American love of gamesmanship to draw audiences to this three-day event at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood.
The folks who have been brushing up on their Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, and Satie to prepare for their big weekend include an ophthalmologist, a librarian, a retired photographed, a psychiatrist, and a homemaker. None is under the age of 35, and one contestant, Meller says, is 80. The contest, patterned after similar events in Paris and Texas, is a way to acknowledge the dedicated dabbler - the backbone of the piano business, after all, but rarely acknowledged in a culture where raw talent seems to be appreciated only in the young. "In the piano world, it's very youth oriented," Meller says. "You can't even get into most competitions once you're 30. "When you want youth, you watch 'Baywatch.' But when you listen to Beethoven, you want wisdom, sensitivity, and perception. Those things come with maturity, not youth."
Each of the 25 contestants - some from as far away as Illinois and Virginia - will play a 10-minute piece for Thursday's elimination round, to be judged by a blue-ribbon panel of pianists, composers, and Juilliard experts.That first group will be whittled down to eight for next Friday's round and then to three for the June 3 showdown.
"It's one thing to play in the sanctity of your living room," Meller says. "It's another to play in a room full of people. That's how you separate the wheat from the chaff.
Young Local Piano Players Have Fun at Recital And Party
There were lights, cameras and lots of digital action at the Annual Holiday Recital Party presented by Phred Piano Expression.
Some 200 mothers and fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and family friends turned out at the Unitarian Society of Riegewood on December 11 to hear their loved ones on the keyboard and they were not disappointed.
“It was a record turnout, and I was delighted at how well everyone did, said Phred Meller. “So many people were impressed by the quality of the performances – and it’s nice that we could achieve that without really having to pull teeth.”
The brothers Brennan, 12 year old James and 9 year old Chris, playing in their 4th annual recital, won “Most consistent players award” and dazzled the crowd with “Moonlight Sonata” and “Sleigh Ride”. Eight year old Anna Gogos and 10 year old Erica Olesky, both of Wyckoff, won the “hardest workers” award. Both displayed the fruits of their labor with Anna’s “Ode to Joy” and Erica’s “Grease Lightning.”
Christina Holmes, a nine year old from Ho-Ho-Kus, quieted the crowd with her pensive, “Silent Night.” Maryann Stoll of Ridgewood, representing the adult player’s contingent, was awfully good after only six months of lessons, with her solid “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”
Interspersed with the 45 fledgling pianists who played were two voal performances by “Fun ‘N’ Easy” teachers Tara Cornetto with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and Jody Sinkway with “What I Did For Love.” Both displayed beautiful voices and professionalism. Eight year old Kelly Varady of Ridgewood in her recital debut was steady and cheerful with “Ode to Joy” while her 11 year old brother, Sean, was most mysterious with his “James Bond Theme.” “They had lost interest in piano so I thought it time for a change,” said their mother, Susan Varady. “It’s very different now – not just classical. They play different types of tunes. My husband, Andy is studying too. Phred offers a very easy approach to piano learning.” In fact, it’s the pleasure of playing that is the focus of Phred’s students.
Some 200 mothers and fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and family friends turned out at the Unitarian Society of Riegewood on December 11 to hear their loved ones on the keyboard and they were not disappointed.
“It was a record turnout, and I was delighted at how well everyone did, said Phred Meller. “So many people were impressed by the quality of the performances – and it’s nice that we could achieve that without really having to pull teeth.”
The brothers Brennan, 12 year old James and 9 year old Chris, playing in their 4th annual recital, won “Most consistent players award” and dazzled the crowd with “Moonlight Sonata” and “Sleigh Ride”. Eight year old Anna Gogos and 10 year old Erica Olesky, both of Wyckoff, won the “hardest workers” award. Both displayed the fruits of their labor with Anna’s “Ode to Joy” and Erica’s “Grease Lightning.”
Christina Holmes, a nine year old from Ho-Ho-Kus, quieted the crowd with her pensive, “Silent Night.” Maryann Stoll of Ridgewood, representing the adult player’s contingent, was awfully good after only six months of lessons, with her solid “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”
Interspersed with the 45 fledgling pianists who played were two voal performances by “Fun ‘N’ Easy” teachers Tara Cornetto with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and Jody Sinkway with “What I Did For Love.” Both displayed beautiful voices and professionalism. Eight year old Kelly Varady of Ridgewood in her recital debut was steady and cheerful with “Ode to Joy” while her 11 year old brother, Sean, was most mysterious with his “James Bond Theme.” “They had lost interest in piano so I thought it time for a change,” said their mother, Susan Varady. “It’s very different now – not just classical. They play different types of tunes. My husband, Andy is studying too. Phred offers a very easy approach to piano learning.” In fact, it’s the pleasure of playing that is the focus of Phred’s students.
