Recent Piano Events

2007 / 2008

 

Summer has past quite fast. For some of the students this summer was especially adventurous.

Isabella Tondi Resta and Victoria Yang participated in the annual International Summer Academy in Düsseldorf-Duisburg, Germany on June 30-July 13, 2008

It was very exciting and invigorating experience for them. Students, children and adults, has been rotated and taught by several professors from Boston, New-York, Russia and Mexico and had to perform solo and chamber group music in five to six recitals in the different music halls during those two weeks.

They visited Robert and Clara Schumann’s house in Düsseldorf and Beethoven’s House in Bonn. In addition, they have made many friends from the different parts of the world!

Your teacher, Raisa Parmentier, as Faculty member of the Academy, was teaching students from the different countries as well (www.musicontherhine.com/faculty)

Students should be prepared properly during the year and participate in the festivals and auditions of the intermediate and advanced level to be recommended for this exciting event. 

Germany2008(Dusseldorf,Bonn,Cologne)

Germany Master class Bonn, Beethoven House, Master Class

Our senior, Michelle Wang, performed solo recital on May 24,2008 at the Steinway Piano Galleries as well.

Her diverse program included the most significant piano compositions of the different periods: Prelude and Fugue from Bach’s WTC, Beethoven’s “Appasionata”, Chopin’s Nocturne, Grieg’s Concerto and pieces of Chinese composers.  

Michelle had live audition at UGA and was immediately accepted by commission, which included UGA faculty, Martha Thomas, GMTA president, and notorious performer and pedagogy specialist Eugeny Rivkin.

MichelleWangSoloRecitalMay2008

MwangRecMay08 

We finished our 2007-2008 academic year with our regular spring studio recital at the Steinway Piano Gallery on May18,2008. Students were rewarded with the trophies and Certificates in accordance with their efforts during the year

StudRecitSpring2008

Two students participated in the GMTNA Spring Audition on March 17th at GSU. Nina Yang received Awards of Excellence; Victoria Yang received Outstanding Performances and proceeded to the State level at UGA in May. She received Outstanding Performance at the State level in UGA and has been chosen as Conference Recitalist for the most prestigious event for piano students in Georgia-Conference of the Georgia Music Teacher Association (GMTA) 2008  

18 students-Sivamalai Chanrasekar, Alex Agnew, Victoria Yang, Nina Yang, Izabella Tondi Resta ,Michelle Zhong, Bahman Moattari, Albert Zhong, Ana Yoon, Meghna Rao, Jaqliene Tran, Tylor Tran, Bernardo Moreira, Inika Vimal, Michael Tian, Doyle Wang, Deborah Brown, Meera Barve- participated in the  AMTNA Atlanta MusicFest on March 8 at the Southern Keyboards. All of them received SUPERIOR grades! Bravo!

Renowned specialist in Baroque Music, Professor of the School of Music at the University of Michigan Edward Parmentier visited Atlanta the second time with master class and presentation at the NDMTA and GSU. He worked privately with the students Izabella Tondi Rersta, Victoria Yang, Russel Thomas, Michelle Wang and Deborah Brown on the piano and harpsichord. It was inspiring and very educational coaching sessions before the Bach Competition in October 2008 at the NDMTA

Ed ParmentMasterclRecital

EdParmentMasterclRecital

24 students, including adult students, participated in NFMC Festival on February 16, 2008 at the Rehoboth Baptist Church in Tucker and all received SUPERIORS. In addition, advanced students received SUPERIOR + and SUPERIOR++!

       Their names:

Alex Agnew, Brown Deborah, Bergorouz Ideen, Chandrasekar Sivamalai, Rao Meghna, Resta Tondi Izabella, Reznikov Michael,Resnikov Sophia, Xu Alina, Yang Nina, Yang Victoria, Zhang Albert, Weng Edmund, Doyle Wang, adults Thomas Russel, Meera Barve and Deborah Brown.

Two students- Idean Behgorouz and Alina Xu were awarded with Golden Cups in Junior category and Deborah Brown has received Silver Cup for Tree Years of Superior in Adult category student at the NFMC Festival

Victoria Yang has won the 1st Award ($300) for a Summer Camp!

She will use the award towards International Summer Academy in Düsseldorf, Germany this summer. She will perfect Solo, Chamber Music and Piano Duet performances with the leading professors from United States and Europe. 

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Adult Piano Recital was held at the studio on February 3, 2008. Adult student recital is a form of a recital in a friendly environment for all level of adult performers. Cordial discussion followed after each performance with emphasis on the different aspects of the Piano Performance, brief information about composers and each piece. Compositions from Clementi sonatas to Liszt-Busoni’s Mephisto-Waltz were performed. After the recital students continued interaction during the reception.

January, 2008 – your teacher, Raisa Parmentier, performed in the Chamber Music Recital with Mark Lakirovich, violinist and dean of Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, and cellist George Butler at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Atlanta/Sandy Springs, at the Epiphany Church in Suwannee, and at the Fallany Performing Arts Center of the Reinhardt College in Waleska.
The program included sonatas and trio works by Mozart, Glinka, Beethoven and Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Part.

 

November 19, 2007 – your teacher, Raisa Parmentier participated in Reinhardt College faculty recital in J.S.Bach Concerto for Four Keyboards and orchestra in A Minor, BWV 1065.

Juan Ramires - conductor of the Reinhardt Symphony Orchestra, George Lucktenberg – Artist in Residence and Raisa Parmentier

The 12th WPPC, November 4-7, 2007 in Las Vegas, NE

Your teacher, Raisa Parmentier, participated in the 12th World Piano Pedagogy Conference in Las Vegas, NE, in November 2007 and was a member of the finalist’s jury in the 2nd International Pianovision Competition.

Victoria Yang, the 9th grade, participated in the Georgia College and State University Junior Piano Olympics Competition in the High School Division on October 27,2007
She won the 2nd prize. Victoria was the youngest winner among High School competitors! She performed “Berceuse” by Chopin and the 3rd movement of Beethoven Sonata Op. 27, No. 2.
Excellent results and rewards were attained for sustained and disciplined practice all together with the beautiful gift!

October 2007 – NDMTA Sonata Competition
Four students participated in The Sonata Competition on October 13, 2007.
Victoria Yang won the 1st prize in advanced category!! She performed the 3rd movement of ‘Moonlight”sonata by Beethoven and participated in Outstanding Performers’ Recital on October 14 at the Recital Hall of the Piano Works. Great work, Victoria!

Andy Hyang, Isabella Tondi Resta and Nina Yang received Outstanding Performance grade! Our congratulations!

Adult student Deborah Brown performed a solo piano recital at the England Piano on July 22, 2007.
The program featured Beethoven’s “Appassionata”, Chopin’s Ballade No.2, Sonata No.3 by Prokofiev and Brahms’s and Rachmaninoff’s miniatures. Deborah is the finalist of the Amateur International Competition 2007 in Colorado.

Our 2007 spring season concluded with our Magic Piano Studio recital at the Steinway Piano Galleries on May13, 2007.

The recital acknowledged new trophy and award winners, who have been rewarded for their sustained accomplishments in hours of home practice, performances during the lessons and theory studies.
Alex Agnew has been rewarded with a 500 points trophy!

Nina Yang – 400 points trophy!

Vivian Wang, Meghna Rao – 300 points; Heather McKay, Sivamalai Chandreasecar – 200 points;

Izabella Tondi resta, Idean Behgorouz, Dianna Xu, Alina Xu, David Solano, Albert Zhang – 100 points;

Amber Feng, Sophia Reznikova, Michael Reznikov, Lavanya Natshiappan, Divya Balakrishnan – 50 points awards.

Victoria Yang (8th grade) and Alex Agnew (7th Grade) performed at the State level of Georgia Music Teacher National Association (GMTA) at the University of Georgia on May 12, 2007.
They had to compete with up to 30 contests in each age category.
Victoria Yang performed Beethoven sonata Op.2 No.1 and S.Rachmaninoff’s. Prelude in D Major. Op. 23 No.4. She has been rated as Outstanding Performer! The judge from Winthrop University, SC, mentioned “…very mature performance for her age and excellent preparedness” of her program.
Alex Agnew’s program included Beethoven’s Sonata in C Minor.”Pathetique” Op.13. and Prelude in C Sharp Minor by S. Rachmaninoff. She has received Award of Excellence and has been noted as “a very talented” student.

Your piano teacher, Raisa Parmentier, participated in the All-Bach Baroque Recital in local churches in February and at the Oglethorpe University Museum of Arts on March 18th. Your teacher performed solo and chamber music on the harpsichord: Toccatas, chamber duets, and trio-sonatas.

It is a very well known fact that Bach did not compose for the piano. Every student will benefit from an introduction to the authentic sound of the most renowned Baroque composer by attending programs that perform his compositions on the original instruments. It will help students to develop the adequate Baroque interpretations on the modern pianos.

Members of All-Bach Baroque Recital with Lloyd Nick, Director of the Oglethorpe University Museum of Arts.

 

24 students, including adult students, participated in NFMC Festival on March 10th at the Northminister Church and all received SUPERIORS. In addition, advanced students received SUPERIOR + and SUPERIOR++!
Their names:
Alex Agnew, Brown Deborah, Bergorouz Ideen, Balakrishnan Divya, Jeyanth John Britto, Choksey Tamara, Chandrasekar Sivamalai, Feng Amber, Hammer Alex, Huang Andy, MacKey Heather, Natchiappan Lavanya,Rao Meghna, Resta Tondi Izabella, Reznikov Michael, Thomas Russel, Wang Vivian, Wang Michelle, Xu Dianna, Xu Alina, Yang Nina, Yang Victoria, Zhang Albert, Weng Edmund.
Izabella Tondi Resta, Michelle Wang, Alex Agnew and Nina Yang each received a Special Judge Reward from three judges of this festival.

Michelle Wang received The Judge Award for Edward Grieg Concerto in A Minor Op. 16 in the category Concerto

Russell Thomas, one of the adults students, who has received Superior + at the NFMC Festival

Seven students - Meghna Rao, Lavanya Natchiappan, Nina Yang, Victoria Yang, Tamara Choksey, Amber Feng and Alex Hammer - were awarded with Gold Cups for 3 Consecutive Years of Superior Rating and participated in the Gold Cup Honor Recital.

 

Four students participated in the GMTNA Spring Audition on March 17th at GSU. Andy Huang and Nina Yang received Awards of Excellence; Victoria Yang and Alex Agnew received Outstanding Performances and will proceed to the State level at UGA on May 12.

Six students-Sivamalai Chanrasekar, Alex Agnew, Victoria Yang, Nina Yang, Izabella Tondi Resta, Andy Huang- participated in the AMTNA Atlanta MusicFest on February 24th at Steinway Piano Galleries. All of them received SUPERIOR grades.

“Atlanta Camerata” (Raisa Parmentier – harpsichord, Nancy Schechter-violin, Olga McNeil-flute, George Butler-cello) presents J.S.Bach Trio-Sonatas recital at the Oglethorpe University Museum of Arts on March 11, 2006.

The 11th World Piano Pedagogy Conference held from October 25th to 28th, 2006 was the most significant musical educational event in Atlanta this fall.
Your teacher was invited to judge in the Final Round of the 1st Piano Competition in the Sonatina, Etude and Invention categories for this conference.

Two students from my studio, Alex Agnew and Deborah Brown, participated in Miniature and Sonata categories and reached the semi-final and final rounds.
Alex Agnew (12 years old) had to compete in final round with several competitors in their twenties and thirties and played extremely well. She was then invited to participate in a master-class with renowned teacher and professor of the Music Institute of Chicago, Emilio Del Rosario. Mr. Rosario was impressed with Alex’s professionalism and preparation, particularly given her age.

Mr. Rosario with Alex Agnew after the master-class

Alex Agnew participated in the Special Talents Competition at the Junior Beta Convention and has won 3rd prize!

Victoria Yang has won 1st prize in the Chopin Piano Competition on November 18th in her age category B (12 years old). She played Etude in G Flat Major and Berceuse by Fr. Chopin. Judges for this contest included Professor Jeffrey Hayden from Georgia State University and Professor Martha Thomas from University of Georgia Best congratulations for her hard work and excellent performance!

Victoria Yang at the Competition’s Winner recital

Nina Yang participated in a challenging J.S. Bach Competition of NDMTA on October 18th and received Outstanding Performance!
Our congratulations!

My congratulations to those students who participated in “Magic Piano” studio’s Technique Test during October.
The Test included two parts: two scales with cadences and etude.
Scale practice is the key for technical success at any pianist’s level. It is very important for students to start practicing as early as possible and to make scale practice a habit for many years ahead.
As a result of their hard work, 16 students received either Excellent or Superior grades.
These are the names of our winners: Alex Hammer, Vivien Wang, Moe Winograd, Meghna Rao, Tamara Choksey, Christian Kungu, Izabella Tondi Resta, Ilia Geiguine, Russel Thomas, Divya Balakrishnan, Jeyanth John Britto, Alina Xu, Dianna Xu, Amber Feng, Judy Manganiello, Ideen Behgorouz

Steinway Piano Galleries hosted our semi-annual “Magic Piano” Studio Recital on December 8, 2006. Students participating in our studio point system received appropriate trophies for attaining 100,200,300 and even 400 points! (By participating in recitals, auditions, festivals, competitions and class work assignments, students are able to earn points that result in larger trophies.)

Irene Weng and Alisa Yang have received the highest grade of excellence “Distinction” in challenging Practical exam of The London Royal School of Music (ABRSM) in March 2006. Besides their performance, the exam included scales, sight-reading, aural and memory tests, and knowledge of musical glossary.
Our best wishes to these gifted and diligent students!

NFMC (National Federation of Music Clubs) Festival
March 18, 2006 (BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED)

Our annual National Federation Music Club Festival (MFMC) has been held on March 18, 2006.

26 students participated in this event, 2 adult students among of them.

Agnew Alex Deborah Brown Tamara Choksey Hammer Alex Huang Andy Keezer Mathew Kungy Chrisitana Wang Lin Vivian Manganiello Judy McKay Heather Winograd Moe Rao Meghna Yang Nina

Jeyanth John Britto Ravikumar Nithin Saas Olivia Stolarsky Gilad Harry Stott Kaitlin Stott Nithia Shree Varshenee Shree Wang Michelle Weng Irene Xu Alina Xu Diana Yang Victoria

All of them received SUPERIOR and some of the students got SUPERIOR +

Judges have defined 5 WINNERS in the best performances during the Festival!

Their names: Alex Agnew, Deborah Brown, Andy Huang, Victoria Yang, Nina Yang!

Congratulations!

We have two students, Alex Agnew and Andy Huang, who have received Nationwide Golden Cups for 3 and 6 consecutive years in Piano Solo Performance! It’s a great reward for the consistent practice which enabled them to progress in developing musical skills.
They also performed with great success in the Golden Cup Recital.

With one to two years many other students might earn Superior grade and receive Golden Cup Trophy with their names engraved on it as well.

Chamber music Atlanta Camerata ensemble Olga McNail, George Butler, Raisa Parmentier performed music by Bach, Handel, Glinka and Rachmaninoff with the guest, violinist, Dean of Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, Mark Lakirovich in March 6, 2006.

· GMTA (Georgia) Spring Local Audition
March 4, 2006
(INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED)

Spring is a season when students can present their achievements in many significant musical events on the different levels.

Four advanced students participated with very difficult programs (Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninoff) in the Spring Audition of the North Fulton brunch of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)

Three of them: Alex Agnew, Victoria Yang and Katherine Zhang received the highest score – Outstanding Performance!

Andy Huang has received Award of Excellence.

The next level for OP --- State level in Athens.

We wish them a great success in this serious and responsible event.

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Your teacher events:
Piano Duet Recital
(Raisa Parmentier - Dexter Shepherd)
January 6, 2006 Rivermont Music Salon
January 15, 2006 Steinway Piano Gallery
Febuary 10, 2006 Faculty recital of NMS at the GSU. The programs included Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Barber, Sibelius, and Kachaturian piano duet music.

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On May 16, 2005, at the Steinway Piano Galleries, Yuval Kellner, the winner of the 2005 Alpharetta Outstanding Young Artist Competition, gave her last recital before returning to her home in Israel. She received much applause for her program, which included works of Bach (Prelude and Figue in G Minor, No.16, WTC, V2), Beethoven (Sonata No.23, “Appasionata”, mvt. III), Rachmaninoff (Prelude in G Minor, op.23), Chopin Nocturnes in C Minor, op.48, No.1 and in B-Flat Minor, Op.9, No.1), Liszt (Hungarian Rhapsody No.2) and Prokofieff. We wish her good luck in her endeavors!

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On April 23, 2005, chamber group Atlanta Camerata (Raisa Parmentier, Randy Cono, Olga McNeil…)gave a recital before an appreciative audience at the
Cannon Chapel of the Emory University. The program featured the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Bizet-Borne, and Rachmaninoff.

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On April 4, 2005 students Yuval Kellner, Michelle Wang and Victoria Yang successfully performed in Atlanta Music Clubs recital at Steinway Piano
Gallleries

On March 13, 2005 your teacher Raisa Parmentier and students Yuval Kellner and Victoria Yang participated in Music for Missions concert at the United Methodist Church in Tucker. These advanced, disciplined and hard working students deserved applauds and recognition.

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National Federation Music Club Festival (MFMC) has been held on March 12, 2005 at the North River Baptist Church in Roswell.
14 students participated in this event:

Agnew Alex Bramski Alexa Tamara Choksey Fischer Tamar Wingrad Moe Wingrad Joe Yang Nina

Boucher Paloma Behforouz Idean Fischer Alon Hammer Alex Huang Andy Rao Madhna Yang Victoria

All of the students received SUPERIOR!
Some of the students got SUPERIOR +, and Nina Yang received SUPERIOR ++ !!!
Alex Agnew and Paloma Boucher received as very distinctive performers Gift Certificates in addition!
Excellent job! Congratulations.

Couple more years with Superior grade and these students will get a trophy—Golden Cup with their names engraved.

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Febuary 5 2005, Alpharetta Presbyterian Church. Yuval Kellner played a very difficult program in the competition. (She is 13 years old) - Yuval Won!! Congratulations!

Click here to read more...

Piano judge, Dr.Priscilla Jefcoat from Brenau University highly evaluated her performance:

Nocturne in C Minor by Chopin, op.48, No.1:
Very beautiful; sensitive. Excellent voicing. What a pleasure to hear such musical playing from one your age!

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Liszt:
Your technique is dazzling for your age!
Bravo!
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Students Alex Agnew, Victoria and Nina Yang participated in the Fall Festival of MTNA in October, 30. All of them received Superior!
My congratulations to your success, achieved through hard work!
Keep going towards Spring Test Audition and competitions!

Michelle Wang received AWard of Excellence on challenging Bach competition on October 16, 2004.
Her performance was noticed by very professional, styled, and polished performance.
She also received very positive feedback from harpsichordist, prof. of School of Music University of Michigan Edward Parmentier:"...clarity, very, good rhythm, detailed sound, perfection of notes and ornaments.
...Perfrormance allows the music to sing, and to sound natural and easy to follow..."

Several students enjoyed participation in the Christmas recital of NFMTNA "Celebrate with Music". Students Andy Huang, Nina and Victoria Yang, Paloma, Boucher, Alex Agnew, Samuel and Sarah Boger performed on beautiful grand
piano at the North Point Mall on December 10, 2004.

25 students participated at the Studio Recital at the Clear Springs Baptist Church on December 12, 2004.
Students Nina Yang, Tamara Choksey, Medhna Rao, and Michelle Wang reached 50 points for the practice time,theoretical preparedness, and achivements in piano performance this semester and received trophy! The next goal is 100 points!

~ Raisa