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Events take place at Hillside Club, located at 2286 Cedar Street in Berkeley
Young Artist Award 2005 Annual Competition
for Piano, Voice, and Orchestral Instrument Performers
Over $2000 in Prizes
New! Special Prize for the performance of the Original Composition
For questions & info, contact: YAA Competition Chair, Ms. Rozalina Gutman: rozalinapiano@comcast.net or by calling at 510.845.4624
Read the article about our Club's 100th Anniversary. For info re. joining the Etude Club of Berkeley, please, call Fran Tannenbaum-Kaye, Membership Chair at (510) 482-1886
The annual Audition is traditionally held in April.
Specific Guidelines and Requirements are usually available in the Fall.
We thank all the participants for striving for the best results & for showing their dedication to studying music. We also admire their teachers & parents for their support.
Congratulations! to the winners of Young Artist Award 2005
Original Composition Category:
1st Prize - Preben Antonsen
2nd Prize -
Reuben Moss and Keenan Roberts Boswell
Junior Performance Category:
1st Prize - Preben Antonsen
2nd Prize - Juhye Lee
3rd Prize - Max Manzanarez
Senior Performance Category:
1st Prize - Victoria Yoon
2nd Prize - Rachel Antonsen
3rd Prize - Jeffrey Taylor
Please, scroll down to read the winners' biorgaphies.
Awards Ceremony and Winners Recital
will take place on May 16, 2005 at 1:00 pm at the Hillside Club
located at 2286 Cedar Street in Berkeley
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
We are pleased to announce personal appearance of Mr. Edwin Outwater,
the Conductor of San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, Wattis Foundation Music Director.
Ms. Elizabeth Prior Runnicles will personally present the Awards to the winners.
RECEPTION WITH THE WINNERS WILL FOLLOW
We are grateful to KDFC Classical 102.1 Radio for the support and publicity generously provided for our event.
We are grateful to the adjudicators for YAA 2005 - Dr. William Bolcom (composition/piano), Ms. Elizabeth Prior Runnicles (strings), Ms. Miriam Abramowitsch (voice) for their generous contribution of time & expertise.
Please, read their biographies below:
Composer William Bolcom
Composer/pianist WILLIAM BOLCOM was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1938. Exhibiting musical talent while still very young, he began (at age 11) private composition studies with John Verrall and piano lessons with Berthe Poncy Jacobson at the University of Washington. Bolcom earned his B.A. from the University of Washington in 1958, studied with Darius Milhaud at MillsCollege in California and at the Paris Conservatoire de Musique, and earned a doctorate in composition in 1964 from StanfordUniversity, where he worked with Leland Smith. Returning to the Paris Conservatoire, he won the 2e Prix in Composition in 1965. Various awards throughout his career include: a BMI award (1953), two Guggenheim fellowships (1965 and 1968), several Rockefeller Foundation awards, several NEA grants, the Marc Blitzstein Award (1966) from the Academy of Arts and Letters (for Dynamite Tonite, an opera for actors written with his long-time collaborator, Arnold Weinstein), two Koussevitzky Foundation Awards (1976 and 1993) for the First Piano Quartet and the Lyric Concerto for Flute and Orchestra - written for James Galway, the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1988 for 12 New Etudes for Piano, the 1977 Henry Russel Award (the highest academic prize given by the University of Michigan) followed 20 years later by the prestigious Henry Russel Lectureship (awarded to a senior faculty member) in March 1997 at the U of M, the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1988 for 12 New Etudes for Piano, investiture in the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1992, honorary doctorates from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award from the University of Washington in 2003. For more info, please, go to: http://www.bolcomandmorris.com
Miriam Abramowitsch, Mezzo Soprano
With vocal flair and dramatic mastery, Miriam Abramowitsch is acknowledged as a leading interpreter of both classic and contemporary song in more than ten languages. According to the San Francisco chronicle, "she has the rare internal stuff of which the fine Lieder singer is made." In 1998 she sang the world premiere of David Del Tredici's "Chana's Story" with the composer at the piano. The enthusiastic reception of its first performance called for its New York premiere in 1999 at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Abramowitsch regularly performs as guest soloist with numerous contemporary music groups such as the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, the Monday Evening Concerts series in Los Angeles and Composers, Inc. She sang the title role in the world premiere of Charles Wuorinen's opera "The W of Babylon" with the San Francisco Symphony's New and Unusual Music series. Other premieres include works by Ralph Shapey, Ursula Mamlok, Gerhard Samuel, Harold Blumenfeld, Tom Cipullo and many others. In addition to the song literature, Ms. Abramowitsch has a large and Varied orchestral repertoire, from the classic works of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Handel and Verdi to Mahler, Stravinsky, Durufle and Berlioz. On compact disc for the Music & Arts label, Ms. Abramowitsch has recorded Schubert's "Winterreise" with George Barth, fortepiano, and songs of Darius Milhaud. A future release is planned of Del Tredici's "Chana's Story," with Mr. Del Tredici at the piano. Ms. Abramovitsch teaches at Mills College, Oakland, CA and privately.
Elizabeth Prior Runnicles, Viola
A noted violist, Ms Runnicles performs regularly with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra (where she has served as Associate Principal) as well as the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, and, as Associate Principal, the Marin Symphony. Other orchestral credits include the Baden Baden Radio, Stuttgart Radio, Basel Symphony, and Mannheim Opera Orchestras, as well as the Freiburg Philharmonic and Cape Town Symphony.A native of South Africa, she was a prizewinner in the International String Competition in Pretoria, and has toured extensively as an orchestral soloist, recitalist and in chamber music ensembles such as the Broderick String Quartet, the Marin Harp Trio, Trio Resonance, the Barbican String Quartet, and Ensemble 13 Karlsruhe. Festival performances include the Colorado Music Festival, the Cabrillo Festival, the Grand Tetons Music Festival, the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, the Sun Valley Summer Symphony and the Fredener Musiktage. Ms Runnicles is also known for organizing a series of "house concerts" on behalf of the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music. Please, click on the following link to find out more details about Ms. Runnicles Bay Area performances: www.chambermusicsf.org/aboutus.html#5
Biographies of Young Artist Award 2005 Winners
Max Manzanarez, age 15, Cello, 3rd Prize in Junior Performance Category
Max is a cello student of David Kadarauch and a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.A graduate of The Crowden School, he performed as a soloist with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra.He has performed in the Junior Bach Festival and for the Morrison Chamber Music Day Program.He participated in master classes with Bonnie Hampton, Ian Swenson, Jean Jeanrenaud, Jeremy Menuhin and Alexander String Quartet. Max attends the CollegePreparatory School.
Jeffrey C. Taylor, age 17, Violin, 3rd Prize in Senior Performance Category
Jeff is a graduating senior and valedictorian at LivermoreHigh School.He will study violin with Kathleen Winkler at RiceUniversity in the fall.He has been a student of Robin Sharp in San Francisco for the past four and a half years and a Suzuki student prior to that.Jeff is in his third season with the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, has performed in the Junior Bach Festival and has attended California Summer Music in PebbleBeach.
Reuben Moss, age 16, Violin, 2nd Prize in Original Composition Category
Reuben, a CrowdenSchool alumnus, studies violin with Erika Miranda. Reuben is an experienced soloist, chamber musician, orchestral violinist, violist, double-bass player, jazz musician and composer.He received top honors at the 2005 California Music Educators’ Association competition for his original string quartet “Jhaleed.”The founding member of The Moss Brothers rock band, Reuben recorded two full-length commercial CDs of his songs before turning 12.
Keenan Roberts Boswell, age 17, Piano, 2nd Prize in Original Composition Category
Keenan is a student at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, CA. Keenan’s first orchestral composition for organ and orchestra, Let the Earth Be Glad, debuted in February 2003 with the Oakland Youth Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Michael Morgan. In December 2004, he performed an organ solo on National Public Radio’s, From the Top. Locally, he has performed with the Diablo Symphony, the Contra Costa Wind Symphony. In June 2004, while on the international tour with Contra Costa Children’s Chorus, he has performed as accompanist at some World's most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall.
Juhye Lee, age 13, Violin, 2ndPrize in Junior Performance Category
Juhye Lee is currently an eighth grade student at JohnMuirMiddle School in San Leandro. She was previously the concertmaster of two CYS (California Youth Symphony) orchestras, and is now the concertmaster of PACO (Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra) Training. Juhye has played in the Junior Bach Festival in 2004 and 2005, and she won first place in the PACO concerto competition. Her current teacher is Doris Fukawa at the San Francisco Conservatory.
Rachel Antonsen, age 16, Violin, 2nd Prize in Senior Performance Category
Rachel has enjoyed playing the violin since she was 6 years old, studying with Debbra Wood Schwartz. In 2003 she began studying with Zaven Melikian. Rachel often performs in chamber music groups. She has played with the Oakland Youth Orchestra, frequently been a soloist or ensemble member at the Junior Bach Festival, and attended California Summer Music and the Bowdoin International Music Festival, where she studied with Jan Repko and Yair Kless. She plans to attend the Virtuoso Program at San Domenico School for her last two years of high school.
Preben Antonsen, age 13, Piano, 1st Prizes in Original Composition & in Junior Performance Categories
Preben has been composing music at the piano almost every day since he was four years old. Molly Axtmann began teaching him piano at age 6, and music theory through his own compositions. He later studied piano with James Chip Brimhall, and now studies with Sharon Mann. He has studied composition with John Adams since 2001, and this year is also studying counterpoint with David Conte. He is a 2005 BMI Student Composer Award winner. ASCAP recognized three of his compositions with Morton Gould Young Composer Awards in 2001, 2002, and 2005. Last fall Preben began learning percussion with Victor Avdienko, and now plays percussion in Young People’s Symphony Orchestra. He is a regular summer participant in the Perlman Music Program in Shelter Island, New York, where he sings and plays piano and chamber music. Preben will begin ninth grade at LickWilmerdingHigh School in the fall.
Victoria Yoon, age 17, Cello, 1st Prize in Senior Performance Category
Born in Korea, Victoria Yoon has played cello for 5 years and is a student at AlbanyHigh School.Her teachers include: Judith Fraser in Vancouver, Maureen McDermott in New York, and Mildred Rosner, her current teacher. Victoria has participated in numerous workshops, working with Bonnie Hampton, John Katz, and Shauna Rolston. She won the Langley Community Music Festival in the Advanced Cello division, second prize in Langley Community Music Concerto Competition, first prize in Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival, highest honor in Langley Kiwanis Music Festival, and first prize with scholarship in the Canadian Music Competition.In addition, Victoria has played in numerous orchestras including the Oakland Youth Orchestra, where she is co-principal cellist.
YAA 2005 Competition Requirements:
Application Deadline: March 15, 2005, Audition: April 19, 2005 11 AM - 4 PM
One work from each of the following periods must be included & performed from memory:
1. Baroque or Classical,
2. Romantic,
3. 20th century/Contemporary OR original composition in a form of Etude, composed by contestant
Janet Weinstein, President of Etude Club greeting performers
Katy Wilson, First Vice-President & Program Chair after performance
Members socializing after the performance
One of the Club's regular performers - Louise Milota
During Club's Monthly Performance
Club members listening to the performers
You Are in the Archives
Tuesday January 27, 2004
Berkeley’s Etude Club Marks a Century of Music
By KATY WILSON Special to the Planet (01-27-04)
Celebrating its 100th anniversary this month, Berkeley’s Etude Club is renewing its dedication to music performance and appreciation and to the encouragement of young musicians.
“This anniversary is a testament to the enduring power of music, and it provides a fascinating window on the past,” says Janet Weinstein, club president.
The Etude Club began Jan. 29, 1904, when six women gave a dinner party and performed a musical program afterwards. Opportunities for women to perform in public were slim at the time, and the evening was so inspiring that the women established a formal group to promote the study and performance of music. Members are either musicians or the ever-important associates, the listeners.
Today the Etude Club continues, meeting monthly for a program of music performed by members, with tea and conversation following. The club encourages students to continue their pursuit of music and promotes musical development through an annual scholarship competition each spring, open to students in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
An Etude Club program today might look like the Feb. 26, 1914 program, which featured works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Mendelssohn. But other pieces heard recently at Etude were actually written during the Club’s lifetime. Among them: Francis Poulenc’s lyrical 1962 Sonata for clarinet and piano; the virtuosic 1939 Scaramouche for two pianos by Darius Milhaud; or Hubert Ho’s Tremble (2003) for flute and piano, performed with the composer at the keyboard.
Over the past 100 years, Etude Club has felt the brush of history. “Our archives provide a wonderful glimpse into the last century,” says Joan Goodman, Etude historian. The club survived the 1906 earthquake, two world wars, and the turn of the millennium. It saw the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic claim the lives of several members. World War I found Etude Club members active outside music, with a table at the Twentieth Century Unit of the Red Cross making surgical dressings.
When the 1923 fire broke out in central Berkeley, it happened to be an Etude meeting day. Past president Eda Cooper recalled that the door suddenly burst open mid-program and a voice shouted, “Berkeley is on fire! Go home immediately.”
By 1931 the club had raised enough money to purchase its own piano, paying the then princely sum of $1,800 to Sherman Clay for a Steinway grand. Many card parties and extra performances were held to pay off the balance. And by 1946 the club was meeting at its current location at the Hillside Club on Cedar Street. Members are faithful, with one 98-year-old member writing this winter to say she regretted she would not be renewing her membership; attending meetings had become difficult.
Times have changed. “Our members no longer attend in white gloves or arrive by streetcar or horse-drawn carriage,” says Goodman, “but our commitment to music remains the same.” Etude Club will be commemorating its centennial through the remainder of 2004.
For additional information on joining the Etude Club or attending one of its programs as a guest, call 559-3959.
