8 June 2022
It is the 20th anniversary of the Southeastern Piano Festival, the weeklong celebration of the ivories that includes both world-renowned concert pianists and master teachers or a vibrant training platform and additionally competition for some of the best junior, pre-college pianists from all over the world. Hatched over dinner only one night between husband-and-wife duet Joseph Rackers and Flotta Lomazov, both piano teachers members at University in South Carolina School of Song, the idea of what the festival might possibly be — with its mix of small student training and rivals, master showcases and advanced presentations of classical pianoforte compositions — was practically fully formed when it was basically conceived. “We had undoubtedly attended (many) piano fests over the years, so we basically place everything into the festival that individuals ourselves as students would like to experience as participants, inch recalled Lomazov. “And typically the format has essentially under no circumstances changed in 20 years. “That format prominently features typically the Arthur Frazer International Competitors, a key aspect of the festival’s popularity thanks to the first award giving the winner to be able to perform a complete concerto because of the South Carolina Philharmonic in their Masterworks concert series the following time. “It’s a big part of just what exactly attracts students to apply for the festival, ” confirmed Rackers, noting that they get over 70 applicants for the 20 destinations. “I find that once the trainees get to the festival even if, there’s a sense of society between the students that type of transcends the competition. They definitely become very close friends as well as the competition becomes friendly opposition. “Notably, 20 is the wonder number this year — on top of the 20th anniversary and the regular 20 pre-college students from the competition, Lomazov and Rackers also invited 20 alumni to perform at various ideas throughout the festival. Among those is undoubtedly Eric Lu, who triumphed in the First Prize at The Manchester International Piano Competition within 2018, the first American in order to win the prestigious award since Murray Perahia 39 years ago. “Having the 20 alumni here brings its own unique energy to the festival, inch said Rackers. “And most of them have actually become ongoing friends while meeting for the festival, so that it is a wonderful kind of reunion. “
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Lomasov echoed Rackers’ comment, observing that she’s excited to carry many of the young competitors right from previous years and connect associated with this year’s guest musicians. As for the rest of the festival, Rackers said that he is particularly enthralled for Sunday’s piano extravaganza, always one of the highlights for this festival for its multiple pianoforte ensemble performances, which this current year will feature many of the alumni alongside Lomasov, Rackers in addition to fellow faculty member Philip Bush. The rest of the alumni are generally sprinkled throughout the festival, among them on the returning Concert Lorrie, which will be parked on Boyd Plaza outside the Columbia Memorial of Art for free of his shows at noon on numerous days throughout the week. In spite of the special commemorations for the twentieth anniversary, neither Rackers or Lomazov seemed overly reflecting about their lengthy tenure supervising this festival, despite their popularity and important role inside the classical piano world. “Every journey of 1000 a long way starts with a single step, inch offered Lomazov after a shorter pause. “That’s how we started off, with baby steps, as well as festival just grew incrementally. “Rackers, for his section, credited the festival’s good results and longevity in part due to their community support in Columbia even though the international flare that will its taken on. “I think when we started out, most people never envisioned running this for 20 years, but our own goal was just to go it each year the best we could, ” he concluded. “The community of Columbia can make it really privileged to be able to accomplish that. “Editor’s note: A full number of performances and programs is now available on the festival’s site at southeasternpianofestival. com.
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