FGCU/ Steinway Piano Competition
The 2011 FGCU/ Steinway Piano Competition will take place on Friday, April 29th, and Saturday, April 30th. The compeition is open to Southwest Florida piano students ages 6 to 18. Over $100,000 in scholarship awards have been presented to date. For more information please contact the Competition Chairwoman, Meghan Brachle at (239) 498-9884.
Download the 2011 Competition Cover Sheet
Download the 2011 Compeition Application
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9th Annual FGCU/ Steinway Piano Competition
The 2010 FGCU/ Steinway Piano Competition Awards Recital took place on Sunday, May 23rd in the Florida Gulf Coast University Student Union Ballroom. Twenty finalists, selected from over 75 students, played their winning pieces and were awarded trophies, certificates, and scholarships totaling over $11,000.
The event was emceed by Rob Meads and awards were presented by Competition Chairperson Meghan Brachle, both of Steinway Piano Gallery. Competition Director, Dr. Michael Baron of FGCU’s Bower School of Music, spoke on the benefits of music education.
According to Steinway Piano Society Founder Greg Billings, "It is an honor to conduct this competition and we are grateful to the Bower School of Music, our generous sponsors, and the piano teachers who helped make it possible. This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their dedication and talent. We hope this inspires them to keep practicing and performing!"
Competition Sponsors
FGCU Foundation
Ron R. & Mary Jane Schneider Family Foundation, Inc. (Overall Award)
Bank of Naples
Advanced Air and Refrigeration, Bill Blaze
Shell Point Retirement Community
Debra Doud
Mary E. Baldini
Marguerite Scribante
Judy Istock
Doug and Jean McLean
Mary E. Loughray
Mary Alice Kennedy-Schafer
Shirley Eaton
Burton Meisner and Ann Richard
Dave and Lil Rea
Margarete Hagen
John E. Marman
Margaret Ridge
Jeannette Boucher
Linda Soper
James T. Roberto
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Henderson
Relax the Back - David and Julie Nodland
Mary Jane Schneider Outstanding Music Award (Overall Winner):
Joseph Lang Jr.
Age Division Winners:
Early Elementary
1st - Rachel Salvatori
2nd - Jonah Berg
3rd - Rafaella Daniyar
HM - Richard Qian
HM - Cynthia Sheng
Late Elementary
1st - Kyleigh Kimball
2nd - Elizabeth Berg
3rd - Olivia Yang
HM - Thomas Diller
HM - Maxwell Norleans
HM - Martin Smith
Junior
1st - Bennett Lanni
2nd - Colleen Kilpatrick
3rd - Madelyn Diller
HM - Kamila Aouchiche
Senior
1st - Joseph Lang Jr.
2nd - Tianna Rogers
3rd - Yvonne Jiang
HM - Thomas Sievert
HM - Christian Stahlman
8th Annual FGCU/ Steinway Piano Competition
The 8th annual FGCU/ Steinway Piano Competition took place on May 16th and 17th, 2009. Local piano students aged 6-18 participated, and 16 winners were awarded trophies, certificates, and cash scholarships courtesy of the Steinway Piano Society and our generous sponsors: The FGCU Foundation, Shell Point Retirement Community, Drs. Richard and Maria Linden, Marguerite Scribante, William and Anne Kinsley, Jeannette Boucher, Tom & Fran Myers, and Deb and Jerry Stone. There were also numerous individual donations made to the scholarship fund.
The Awards Recital was held on May 30th in the FGCU Student Union Ballroom. The students played their winning pieces before the awards were presented by Dr. Michael Baron, director and Meghan Brachle, Competition Chairperson. According to Brachle, "the contestants were well-prepared and enthusiastic, which was evident in their playing." The event was emceed by Rob Meads.
Early Elementary:
1st Place: Cynthia Sheng, student of Suzanna Kalina
2nd Place: Kyleigh Kimball, student of Elena Hall
3rd Place: Shannon Salvatori, student of Mingshan Kong
Honorable Mention: Martin Smith, student of Mingshan Kong
Late Elementary:
1st Place: Olivia Yang, student of Suzanna Kalina
2nd Place: Kamila Aouchiche, student of Joanne Smith
3rd Place: Maxwell Norleans, student of Mingshan Kong
Honorable Mention: Christian Dimaculangan, student of Candace Sundby
Junior:
1st Place: Melody Cooke, student of Mingshan Kong
2nd Place: Jennifer Wu, student of Mingshan Kong
3rd Place: Julian Gonzales, student of Joanne Smith
Honorable Mention: Kevin Boyd, student of Joanne Smith
Senior:
1st Place: Yvonne Jiang, student of Mingshan Kong
2nd Place: Jesse Zavada, student of Dr. Michael Baron
3rd Place: John White, student of Ann Webster
Honorable Mention: Christian Stahlman, student of Lan Lam
Overall Winner - Tie:
Melody Cooke
Yvonne Jiang