SPECIAL AWARDS
• THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL & PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK - Prize: $50 educational & explanatory info (as pdf download)
We pay lip service to nuance and poetic sensitivity, yet so often it’s “loud and fast” that elicits the most attention. So we have this prize category for excellence in slow, lyrical playing. Any piano solo or concerto movement that is predominantly lyrical and slow qualifies for this award. (The judges will be the final arbiters of what pieces qualify for this -- or any other -- award.) The judges will be looking for articulative finesse, subtlety, musical maturity, good tone, balance of voices, phrase nuances, pedaling sophistication if applicable, etc. “Technique” is a lot more than just virtuosity!
We pay lip service to nuance and poetic sensitivity, yet so often it’s “loud and fast” that elicits the most attention. So we have this prize category for excellence in slow, lyrical playing. Any piano solo or concerto movement that is predominantly lyrical and slow qualifies for this award. (The judges will be the final arbiters of what pieces qualify for this -- or any other -- award.) The judges will be looking for articulative finesse, subtlety, musical maturity, good tone, balance of voices, phrase nuances, pedaling sophistication if applicable, etc. “Technique” is a lot more than just virtuosity!
• THE DENVER AREA MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR THE BEST PIANIST STUDYING WITH A DAMTA MEMBER - Prize: $100 educational & explanatory info (as pdf download)
This award goes for the best all-around pianist whose principal piano teacher is a member of DAMTA as of the duration of the festival. (The only criteria are superior performance and membership in DAMTA by the principal teacher.)
This award goes for the best all-around pianist whose principal piano teacher is a member of DAMTA as of the duration of the festival. (The only criteria are superior performance and membership in DAMTA by the principal teacher.)
• THE COLUMBINE MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR THE BEST PIANIST STUDYING WITH A CMTA MEMBER - Prize: $100 educational & explanatory info (as pdf download)
This award goes for the best all-around pianist whose principal piano teacher is a member of CMTA as of the duration of the festival. (The only criteria are superior performance by the student and membership in CMTA by the principal teacher.)
This award goes for the best all-around pianist whose principal piano teacher is a member of CMTA as of the duration of the festival. (The only criteria are superior performance by the student and membership in CMTA by the principal teacher.)
• THE MARY LEAH CHAVIES PIANO ENSEMBLE AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK FOR 4 OR MORE HANDS ON 1, 2 OR 3 PIANOS (3rd piano by request only and contingent on space and availability)
- Prize: $50 educational & explanatory info (as pdf download)
This is a new category, intended for piano ensembles of any kind on one, two or three pianos. Most commonly this would be four-hand repertory (two pianists at one piano) or two-piano repertory (one pianist at each of two pianos). However, students are free to explore other options involving up to three pianos - e.g., six-hand repertory (one pianist at each of the three pianos), etc. Theoretically a performance might involve up to nine pianists - three per piano!
Pieces in any style are permissible - standard repertory, improvisations, original works, arrangements, etc. Since at least one of the stage pianos is a digital keyboard, students are encouraged to explore and utilize the unique features that the Clavinova can bring to a performance.
IMPORTANT: All performers will share equally in the prize money for this category providing they are all registered participants in the festival (i.e., each performer has paid a separate application fee).
More details can be found on the Repertory page -BROKENLINK
• THE LUKE RACKERS AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF ANY PIANO SOLO WORK PUBLISHED BY ABUNDANT SILENCE - Prize: $50
• To access the ever-expanding list of piano solo publications that would qualify for this prize, see here.
• To access the ever-expanding list of piano solo publications that would qualify for this prize, see here.
• THE KAREN COMBS TRIBUTE AWARD FOR MOST VERSATILE PIANIST
- Prize: $100 educational & explanatory info (as pdf download)
Well-rounded skills are essential for success, yet the greatest prestige is often bestowed on specialization. This festival seeks to promote all-around musicianship by offering a prize for the student who demonstrates imaginative and interpretive excellence along with the greatest versatility. Students vying for this award are encouraged to play as much repertory (with as much variety of styles) as possible within the 15-minute limit -- preferably with demonstrations of various improvisational styles.
- Prize: $100 educational & explanatory info (as pdf download)
Well-rounded skills are essential for success, yet the greatest prestige is often bestowed on specialization. This festival seeks to promote all-around musicianship by offering a prize for the student who demonstrates imaginative and interpretive excellence along with the greatest versatility. Students vying for this award are encouraged to play as much repertory (with as much variety of styles) as possible within the 15-minute limit -- preferably with demonstrations of various improvisational styles.
• THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE WRITTEN WHOLLY BY A FEMALE COMPOSER - Prize: $50 educational & explanatory info (as pdf download)
Any piano solo, or concerto movement composition written exclusively by a female composer – in any style, from any time period – will be considered for this award. We would also allow an original composition by the contestant (assuming, of course, the contestant is female!). An original composition would, of course, also qualify for the Best Original Composition award.
Female composers of published piano music who would like to be included on this page may contact Dr. Houle.
Here is a practical volume of piano music (intermediate to early advanced) by various women composers:
At the Piano with Women Composers, edited by Maurice Hinson, 1990, Alfred Publications catalog #428. (A little "strategy" thought: the Nocturne by Szymanowska in this volume would qualify a contestant for the FEMALE COMPOSER award, the BEST PERFORMANCE OF A ROMANTIC PERIOD WORK award, and the BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK award!)
Alfred also publishes delightful intermediate level music by Catherine Rollin (e.g., Spotlight on Classical Style; 4 Original Pieces in Classical Style for the Intermediate Pianist, Alfred catalog #6038).
Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee
Dianne's music is generally 20th/21st century in style, but also quite accessible. It runs the gamut from easier "teaching pieces" to wonderful "showcase virtuosic" pieces that appeal to macho teenage technique studs (e.g., "Sonata No. 1"). Her beautiful Chopinesque Nocturne was featured in the March/April 1999 issue of Piano & Keyboard magazine and would also qualify a contestant for the BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK award as well as the BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN IMPRESSIONISTIC OR CONTEMPORARY WORK IN ANY STYLE!
Several CDs of her music are available -- e.g.: - "Music by Dianne Goolkasian-Rahbee"
Compositions are performed by noted pianists Rebecca Raffaelli, Phyllis Alpert Lehrer, Tanya Bartevyan, Elise Jackendoff, Deborah Yardley Beers, Ena Bronstein Barton, and violinist Magdalena Suchecka Richter.
To purchase this CD or inquire about Rahbee's piano music and other CD's, contact Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee at:
grdianne3@gmail.com
(617) 489-1848
45 Common St.
Belmont, MA 02478-3022
Rahbee's music can also be heard online.
The complete piano works of Rahbee are, or will be, published by:
The FJH Music Company
2525 Davie Road, Suite #360
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33317-7424
800-262-8744
or 1-954-382-6061
fax: 954-382-3073
e-mail: sales@fjhmusic.com
Or you can order her music from any music store.
Newly published by Rahbee: -- "Modern Miniatures for Piano Solo. Volume 1; Late Elementary/Intermediate," edited by Helen Marlais. FJH Music Co., Inc.
Other compositions by Rahbee include the following (if not yet available from FJH Music, please contact Rahbee directly):
Essay No. 1 Op. 1 (1972 ) (L. Int.)Pictures Op. 3 (1980) (El.)Essays Op. 4 (1980) (Int.)
Three Preludes Op. 5 (1980) (Int.)
(CD: T. Bartevyan, pianist)Abstracts Op. 7 (1981) (Up. Int.)Expressions Op. 8 (1981) (Up. El.)
Phantasie Variations Op. 12 (1981) Advanced
(CD: Phyllis Alpert Lehrer, pianist)Fragments Op. 14 (1987) (Up. El.)Soliloquies Op. 17 (Int.)
Seven Pieces Op. 18 (Int.)Intermezzi Op. 21 (1984) (Up. Int.)
(CD: E. Jackendoff, pianist)Sonata No. 1 Op. 25 (1986) (Adv.)
(CD: R. Raffaelli, pianist)
Sketch Op. 29 (1988) (Also for Harp solo).Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 31 (1988) (Adv.)
(CD Seda 333 Lehrer, pianist)Nocturne Op. 32, No. 1 (1989) (Int.)
(CD: R. Raffaelli, pianist)
Scherzino Op. 32, No. 2 (1989) (Int.)
(CD: T. Bartevyan, pianist)Novellette Op. 34 (1989) (Up. Int.)
(CD: D. Yardley Beers, pianist)Sonatina Op. 41 (19990) (Int.)
(CD: E. Jackendoff, pianist)
Prelude Op. 54 " Intchu?" (1992) (Up. Int.- Adv.)
(CD: E. Jackendoff, pianist)Prelude Op. 62 "Whim" (1994) (Int.)Three Preludes Op. 68 (1994) for Virginia Eskin (Adv.)
Prelude Op. 69 "Twilight" (Intermediate)Selected Preludes (Op. 4; Op. 18; Op. 46; Op. 62; Op. 69) (Int.)Seven Little Etudes Op. 74 (Int.)
Biography of Goolkasian-Rahbee:
Dianne Goolkasian-Rahbee was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, February 9, 1938, and began her early musical training as a pianist with Antoine Louis Moeldner in Boston, and continued studying at Juilliard as a piano major and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria playing chamber music. She later studied piano privately with David Saperton in New York and Lily Dumont, Russell Sherman, and Veronica Jochum in Boston.
At the age of 40, she began concentrating more seriously at composing and has since produced a large body of works for piano solo, orchestra, instrumental ensembles , percussion, and voice.
In 1985, she was elected President of American Women Composers, Massachusetts Chapter and founded its annual marathon. Her music has been performed in Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, China, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Canada and throughout the U.S. In 1993, her orchestral work "Tapestry No. 1, Proclamation" was recorded on CD with the Slovakian Radio Orchestra, conducted by the late Robert Black, and is available on the MMC Recording Label. Selected piano music for students is published by Boston Music Company. As a first generation Armenian-American whose father was a survivor of the genocide, her music reflects a deep rooted ethnic background. The strong influences of her first spoken language, Armenian, and the folk music she grew up with, are important elements in her musical language. Her early love for music was sparked by her talented violinist mother.
Dianne Goolkasian-Rahbee teaches piano privately at her home in Belmont, Massachusetts and gives lectures and master classes internationally.
Any piano solo, or concerto movement composition written exclusively by a female composer – in any style, from any time period – will be considered for this award. We would also allow an original composition by the contestant (assuming, of course, the contestant is female!). An original composition would, of course, also qualify for the Best Original Composition award.
Female composers of published piano music who would like to be included on this page may contact Dr. Houle.
Here is a practical volume of piano music (intermediate to early advanced) by various women composers:
At the Piano with Women Composers, edited by Maurice Hinson, 1990, Alfred Publications catalog #428. (A little "strategy" thought: the Nocturne by Szymanowska in this volume would qualify a contestant for the FEMALE COMPOSER award, the BEST PERFORMANCE OF A ROMANTIC PERIOD WORK award, and the BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK award!)
Alfred also publishes delightful intermediate level music by Catherine Rollin (e.g., Spotlight on Classical Style; 4 Original Pieces in Classical Style for the Intermediate Pianist, Alfred catalog #6038).
Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee
Dianne's music is generally 20th/21st century in style, but also quite accessible. It runs the gamut from easier "teaching pieces" to wonderful "showcase virtuosic" pieces that appeal to macho teenage technique studs (e.g., "Sonata No. 1"). Her beautiful Chopinesque Nocturne was featured in the March/April 1999 issue of Piano & Keyboard magazine and would also qualify a contestant for the BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK award as well as the BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN IMPRESSIONISTIC OR CONTEMPORARY WORK IN ANY STYLE!
Several CDs of her music are available -- e.g.: - "Music by Dianne Goolkasian-Rahbee"
Compositions are performed by noted pianists Rebecca Raffaelli, Phyllis Alpert Lehrer, Tanya Bartevyan, Elise Jackendoff, Deborah Yardley Beers, Ena Bronstein Barton, and violinist Magdalena Suchecka Richter.
To purchase this CD or inquire about Rahbee's piano music and other CD's, contact Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee at:
grdianne3@gmail.com
(617) 489-1848
45 Common St.
Belmont, MA 02478-3022
Rahbee's music can also be heard online.
The complete piano works of Rahbee are, or will be, published by:
The FJH Music Company
2525 Davie Road, Suite #360
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33317-7424
800-262-8744
or 1-954-382-6061
fax: 954-382-3073
e-mail: sales@fjhmusic.com
Or you can order her music from any music store.
Newly published by Rahbee: -- "Modern Miniatures for Piano Solo. Volume 1; Late Elementary/Intermediate," edited by Helen Marlais. FJH Music Co., Inc.
Other compositions by Rahbee include the following (if not yet available from FJH Music, please contact Rahbee directly):
Essay No. 1 Op. 1 (1972 ) (L. Int.)Pictures Op. 3 (1980) (El.)Essays Op. 4 (1980) (Int.)
Three Preludes Op. 5 (1980) (Int.)
(CD: T. Bartevyan, pianist)Abstracts Op. 7 (1981) (Up. Int.)Expressions Op. 8 (1981) (Up. El.)
Phantasie Variations Op. 12 (1981) Advanced
(CD: Phyllis Alpert Lehrer, pianist)Fragments Op. 14 (1987) (Up. El.)Soliloquies Op. 17 (Int.)
Seven Pieces Op. 18 (Int.)Intermezzi Op. 21 (1984) (Up. Int.)
(CD: E. Jackendoff, pianist)Sonata No. 1 Op. 25 (1986) (Adv.)
(CD: R. Raffaelli, pianist)
Sketch Op. 29 (1988) (Also for Harp solo).Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 31 (1988) (Adv.)
(CD Seda 333 Lehrer, pianist)Nocturne Op. 32, No. 1 (1989) (Int.)
(CD: R. Raffaelli, pianist)
Scherzino Op. 32, No. 2 (1989) (Int.)
(CD: T. Bartevyan, pianist)Novellette Op. 34 (1989) (Up. Int.)
(CD: D. Yardley Beers, pianist)Sonatina Op. 41 (19990) (Int.)
(CD: E. Jackendoff, pianist)
Prelude Op. 54 " Intchu?" (1992) (Up. Int.- Adv.)
(CD: E. Jackendoff, pianist)Prelude Op. 62 "Whim" (1994) (Int.)Three Preludes Op. 68 (1994) for Virginia Eskin (Adv.)
Prelude Op. 69 "Twilight" (Intermediate)Selected Preludes (Op. 4; Op. 18; Op. 46; Op. 62; Op. 69) (Int.)Seven Little Etudes Op. 74 (Int.)
Biography of Goolkasian-Rahbee:
Dianne Goolkasian-Rahbee was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, February 9, 1938, and began her early musical training as a pianist with Antoine Louis Moeldner in Boston, and continued studying at Juilliard as a piano major and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria playing chamber music. She later studied piano privately with David Saperton in New York and Lily Dumont, Russell Sherman, and Veronica Jochum in Boston.
At the age of 40, she began concentrating more seriously at composing and has since produced a large body of works for piano solo, orchestra, instrumental ensembles , percussion, and voice.
In 1985, she was elected President of American Women Composers, Massachusetts Chapter and founded its annual marathon. Her music has been performed in Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, China, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Canada and throughout the U.S. In 1993, her orchestral work "Tapestry No. 1, Proclamation" was recorded on CD with the Slovakian Radio Orchestra, conducted by the late Robert Black, and is available on the MMC Recording Label. Selected piano music for students is published by Boston Music Company. As a first generation Armenian-American whose father was a survivor of the genocide, her music reflects a deep rooted ethnic background. The strong influences of her first spoken language, Armenian, and the folk music she grew up with, are important elements in her musical language. Her early love for music was sparked by her talented violinist mother.
Dianne Goolkasian-Rahbee teaches piano privately at her home in Belmont, Massachusetts and gives lectures and master classes internationally.
