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WINTER 2015 NEWSLETTER
P I A N O S O C I E T YAnnouncing the 2015-2016 Season This season includes distinguished pianist of all ages. A pivotal component of our mission is to encourage and support talented young artists, and we are delighted to showcase several exceptionally exciting young pianists. Some of these performers are current FGCU students who have received Steinway Piano Society scholarships, and other artists are graduate and doctoral students majoring in Piano Performance. As well as the rising stars, our schedule is filled with renowned Steinway Artists who will perform captivating musical compositions for our members.
At our Season Kick-Off recital on December 3, 2015, members were treated to a riveting performance featuring our 2015 scholarship recipient Chansik Youn. Youn thrilled and awed with deep feeling while playing music by Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Liszt. Chansik performed an encore with Steinway Artist Dr. Michael Baron, FGCU Professor of Music and Head of Keyboard Studies. Dr. Baron will also join Pedro Che and Manuel Molina for our next event on Thursday, January 7th.
Visit online at www.spsflorida.orgSPS scholarship recipient Chansik Youn performs with Steinway Artist Dr. Michael Baron at the Steinway Piano Gallery Recital Hall on December 3, 2015
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Peg and Paul Rowley
Late elementary award recipients
The new season of the Steinway Piano Society is upon us and there are lots of exciting new plans in motion.
The Steinway Society has new leadership. Grant Billings has been appointed President and Chuck Lussenhop will serve as Vice President. Both have extensive music and non-profit leadership experience and are dedicated to overseeing the continued prosperity of the Society.
Our performers deserve the best facilities, so our events will be held once again at the Steinway Piano Gallery’s Recital Hall – an intimate and acoustically dazzling venue for all lovers of piano. The detailed Calendar of Events is available on our new website SPSflorida.org.
The Society will continue to foster musical talent and appreciation in our young local artists. The Young Artist Competition is a great opportunity for young pianists to gain experience preparing for, and performing in, a competitive environment. Later this season, thanks to an even stronger partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University’s Bower School of Music, we will be announcing changes to the competition that will elevate the experience for the participants and you, our Society members.
Our members are vital to our success. Your suggestions are always welcomed and appreciated.
To become a SPS member,visit SPSflorida.org
List of Winners Overall WinnerChristopher Myers
Senior Finalist:1st: Christopher Myers2nd: Kyleigh Kimball3rd: Jonah Berg
Honorable Mentions: Christian Dimaculangan, Elizabeth Berg
Junior Finalist1st. Maggie Johns2nd. David Carlson3rd. Amy Wu
Honorable Mentions: Sophia Cabellon, Cynthia Sheng
Late Elementary Finalist1st. Julia Daniyar2nd. Kevin Dimaculangan3rd. Alexa Macri
Honorable Mentions: Elise Brown, Justin Wang, Allan Zhou
Early Elementary Finalist1st. Tiana Richter2nd. Rachel Kastner3rd. Melanie Martinez
Honorable Mention: Isabel Liu
2015 Young Artists Piano CompetitionThe 2015 Steinway Piano Society Young Artist Competition was an unequivocal success, with a large number of students partaking in two days of competition at the Steinway Piano Gallery on April 17th and 18th. Students ranging from ages 6 -18 were eligible to participate.
The Winner’s Recital and awards presentation was held at the U. Tobe Hall at the Bower School of Music on April 26th.
We would like to thank competition chairman, Dr. Michael Baron and everyone at FGCU who helped make the event an extraordinary experience.
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Announcing…Grant Billings, President, Southwest Florida Steinway Piano Society
Following his father’s retirement last year, Grant Billings has taken over the role of President of the Steinway Piano Society.
Grant, who co-founded the Young Artist competition, loves to share his passion for music and the piano. “Our community’s commitment to music and the arts is no better expressed than through the success of the Young Artist Competition and the Society,” Grant said. “I am very excited with the potential we have to grow both the competition and the organization.”
Following in the footsteps of three generations of entertainers and music enthusiasts, Grant has served on the boards of a variety of not-for-profit music and arts organizations and remains a member of the UW-Madison School of Music Board of Visitors. He was also co-founder of the Young Artist Piano Competition.
Grant and his wife, Colleen, are both excited about the future of the Society. Colleen, who is the HR Director for Vi at Bentley Village, played clarinet in high school, has taken piano lessons as an adult, and will be volunteering for the SPS, so you can expect to meet her at this season’s events, too!
Chuck Lussenhop, Vice President, Southwest Florida Steinway Piano Society
Chuck Lussenhop has joined the leadership team of the Steinway Piano Society as Vice President, a new volunteer role. He brings to the Society an outstanding business acumen and vast professional leadership experience. Chuck has a deep appreciation of music and is an avid supporter of the arts in Naples.
He was raised in the Chicago area by musical parents who provided him with training in violin and piano at an early age. His musical childhood also cultivated his appreciation for fine music by attending performances by the Chicago Symphony and the Lyric
Opera. He now enjoys composing music of all kinds, including pop, jazz and even electronic dance music. He and his wife, Kay, moved to Naples in 2013.
“Although I worked in business my whole career, I now have the time to re-engage with music and to help others appreciate music as much as I do,” Chuck said.
Chuck relishes being a member of the Steinway Piano Society and decided to take a more active role as Vice President. “I look forward to working with Grant to take the Society forward in a way that makes it a more vital part of the arts community of Southwest Florida.”
Chuck encourages members to “contact me anytime! I look forward to getting to know all the members of the Steinway Piano Society.” He can be reached at [email protected]
Pedro Che, Kay Slocum, Chuck Lussenhop, & Manuel Molina
2016 Young Artists Competition The Competition’s Crystal Anniversary will be marked by several exciting changes!
Joanne Smith, who co-founded the competition in 2002, will be taking over as Competition Chairperson. Joanne is Professor Emerita of Piano and Pedagogy from the University of Michigan School of Music Theatre and Dance.
After a decade and a half, the competition has simply outgrown the Gallery. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Michael Barron and FGCU, both the competition and awards recital will be held at the Bower School of Music. This impressive, state-of-the-art facility offers more space, and a larger venue for other students, parents and teachers to observe the actual competition.
“Students – and teachers – can learn so much from each other. Opportunities like this are rare,” explains Joanne Smith.
“The U. Tobe Hall is a great space that makes it practical for participants to watch each other in a competition setting without being distracting. This creates a more exciting atmosphere for everyone involved and structures the competition in line with the leading amateur competitions in the country.”
The competition will be held on May 6 and 7, 2016 with the awards recital taking place on May 14, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. Students, teachers, and the general public are invited to both the competition recital days as well as the final awards recital. Recital times will be listed at SPSflorida.org
Do You Want To Help?Do you love music and the Steinway Piano sound? Perhaps you would like to volunteer a few hours a month to further the mission of the Society? We’re looking for volunteers who are interested in communications, event support, and any and all things piano. Email us and let us know. [email protected]
Visit online at www.spsflorida.org
2015-2016 CALENDAR OF EVENTSThursday, January 7, 2016 7:00 p.m. - Pedro Che and Manuel Molina - FGCU Senior Piano Performance majors from the Bower School of Music. Tuesday, February 2, 2016 7:00 p.m. - Dr. Noel Engebretson Steinway Artist - Professor Emeritus – University of Alabama.Wednesday, February 17, 2016 7:00 p.m. - Maxim Lando - Thirteen-year-old piano virtuoso. Friday, February, 26, 2016 7:00 p.m. - Steinway Artist Dr. Joseph Irrera and Dr. John Irrera - Piano and violin duo and alumni of the Eastman School of Music.Friday, March 4, 2016 7:00 p.m. - Priscila Navarro - SPS scholarship recipient and graduate student at the University of Miami Frost School of Music.Tuesday March 29, 2016 7:00 p.m. - Andrew Focks, Doctoral Candidate - Piano Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. April, 2016 - TBD - Jazz Night May 6 & 7, 2016 - Steinway Piano Society/FGCU Young Artist Piano Competition – Open to the public!Saturday, May 14, 2016 3:00 p.m. - Steinway Piano Society/FGCU Young Artist Piano Competition Awards Concert - Open to the public!For more information, bios, and to RSVP, visit SPSflorida.org
28751 South Tamiami TrailBonita Springs, Florida 34134
the steinway
piano society is a
not-for-profit
organization dedicated
to ensuring a rich
musical future by
nourishing the talents
of young pianists in
our community.
P I A N O S O C I E T Y
Please renew or begin my/our Southwest Florida Steinway Piano Society Membership:Check One: Renewal New Membership | Single ($95.00) Family ($125.00)
Any amount in addition to your membership will be applied to the scholarship fund. �ank you!Renew your membership online at SPS�orida.org | By phone (239) 498-9884 | Via Fax (239) 498-6028
Or by mail: 28751 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134 Please make payable to Southwest Florida Steinway Piano Society
Any amount in addition to your membership will be applied to the scholarship fund. �ank you!
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