FCP Alumni Spotlights - 2017

Samantha Ng and James Algermissen

Special kudos to Samantha Ng, age 13, and James Algermissen, age 11, who each won a total of FOUR First prizes in the 2017 festival:
 
Samantha Ng:
 • ARTIST PIANIST AWARD
 • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A PRE-BAROQUE OR BAROQUE PERIOD WORK
 • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CONTEMPORARY WORK
 • BEST PIANIST STUDYING WITH A DAMTA MEMBER

PROGRAM BY SAMANTHA NG (teacher: Valerie Mishek)   Total: 12:57
Prelude No. 9 in Eb Major by Timothy Brown (contemporary) 2:15
Sonatina in A Minor, HWV 584 (no repeat) by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) 2:04
Tango a la Mango by Dennis Alexander (b. 1947) 1:19
Sonatina in G Major, Op. 36, No. 5 by Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) 
     i. Presto (original version; no repeats) 2:09     ii. Original Swiss Air: Allegretto Moderato (original version; no repeats) 1:41
Valse mélancolique, Op. 2, No. 3 (c. 1900) by Vladimir Rebikov (1866-1920) 1:58
Toccata Tempestosa by Dennis Alexander (b. 1947) 1:31

Samantha Ng is congratulated by Dr. Houle during the Awards Ceremony

Samantha started learning piano at the age of 5 with the University of Utah’s School of Music, Preparatory Division. During those early years, she began to develop and gain confidence in her musicianship skills, and discover the joy that music brings to her and those around her. In 2013 & 2014, she participated and won first prize in the Salt Lake Piano Competition.

She and her family moved to Colorado in 2014, and she continued to practice diligently and challenge herself in piano playing. Since moving to Colorado, she has taken part and excelled in various piano competitions and festivals in Colorado, including The Modern Festival, The Colorado Federation of Music Clubs’ Music Festival, MTA Suburban Northwest Fall Festival, FMTA Sonatina Festival, Schmitt Music Competition (Non Competitive Division) and the National Piano Guild. The 2017 Festival of Creative Pianists was particularly fun for her due to the personal interactions she had with the judges.

Samantha is blessed to have been taught by 3 wonderful piano teachers: Karlyen Tan in Salt Lake City, Karen Greenhalgh and Valerie Mishek in Colorado. They have all been instrumental in helping her develop her skills in piano playing. Playing the piano serves as a creative outlet for Samantha, and she enjoys the music of both classical and contemporary composers. She hopes to be able to use her music to bring joy to those in the community one day.
Apart from piano, Samantha plays the clarinet in her school’s marching band. She is an avid reader and writer, enjoys figure skating and loves to travel with her family.

Samantha Ng

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James Algermissen:
 • BEST DEMONSTRATION OF GENUINELY SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISATION IN ANY STYLE (PIANO ENSEMBLE)
 • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK FOR 4 OR MORE HANDS
 • MOST VERSATILE PIANIST
 • BEST DEMONSTRATION OF SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION (JAZZ, POP, GOSPEL OR RAG)

PROGRAM BY JAMES ALGERMISSEN (student of Kellie Johannik)   Total: 14:30
Downtown Blues in F by MARTHA MIER (b. 1936) (piano duet with dad, Carl Algermissen - added improvs by both) 2:30
Sonatina in C, Op. 36, No. 1 by Muzio Clementi (1752 -1832) 2:00
     i. Allegro (original version with repeats, no variants)
Minuet in G Minor, BWV Anh. 115 from Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, attr. to Christian Petzold (1677-1733) with added ornamentation 2:00
Theme from the Pink Panther in E Minor by Henry Mancini (1924-1994), arr. Carol Matz (contemporary) with added embellishments 2:40 
Antique Music Box in G Major by MELODY BOBER (Contemporary FEMALE) 1:50
Interactive Improv (not written out) by the contestant 3:30

James Algermissen is congratulated by the three judges during the Awards Ceremony.

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2018 Alumni Spotlights - Claire and Julianne McCollough

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