Michelle Naughton, 2006 PianoArts first place winner, and her twin sister, Christina, will enter the Curtis Institute of Music as freshman on full merit scholarships in 2007. They will study with Robert McDonald.

Jie Chen, 2003 PianoArts first place winner, is in demand this season. Here are some of the highlights. Jie will open the El Paso Symphony Orchestra’s 2007/2008 season performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. On October 19, Jie will perform in the Ravinia Rising Stars Concert Series, and in January she will perform Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor in Spain with the Asturias Symphony Orchestra under the baton of JoAnn Falletta.

Jacob Ertl, 2002 PianoArts second place winner, will return to Milwaukee in March, 2008, to perform Student-to-Student programs. He also plans to audition for his Doctorate of Musical Arts and compete in the Eastman School of Music’s concerto competition.

John Boonenberg, 2000 PianoArts first place winner, has been accepted at The Juilliard School to study for his master’s degree with Robert McDonald. And yes, Mr. McDonald teaches at both Curtis and Juilliard, and two of our past winners are his present students.

Elizabeth Joy Roe, 1999 PianoArts first place winner, will begin her second year as a Fellow at The Academy of Carnegie, The Juilliard School and Weill Music Institute. Elizabeth will work with a music specialist in a New York City School and will perform in chamber concerts throughout the season at Carnegie Hall. On October 26, Elizabeth will perform in the Ravinia Rising Stars Concert Series.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PIANOARTS 2008 WINNERS

Sejoon Park
First Place Prize, scholarship to the International Keyboard Institute & Festival at Mannes College of Music
and Best Performance of a Violin or Cello Duo (shared with Brian Chang)

Paige Chun Li
Second Place Prize and Audience Communication Award

Sean Yeh
Third Place Prize

Brian Chang
Best Performance of Violin or Cello Duo (shared with Sejoon Park)