BY JANELLE GELFAND
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The young pianist faces the long black Steinway, her blue velvet and satin gown flowing around her, her waist-length hair streaming down her back. Taking a breath, Maeve Brophy plunges into Beethoven's Appassionata sonata, the first piece among the formidable, knuckle-breaking selections she will perform.
It's 9:30 a.m. at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the beginning of a long, nerve-racking day.
On Wednesday, the CCM Prep Department hosted the American Qualifying Round of the Third International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz in Patricia Corbett Theater.
Maeve, 15, of Bartlett, Tenn., was the first to be scrutinized by the three judges. Winners will make up the American team that will go to the finals in Kiev, Ukraine, in April to compete with pianists from 34 countries.
“The prize is pretty impressive — $6,000, a recording and an opportunity to compete on an international scale in a foreign country,” said Mark Wait, dean of the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and a judge.
A few family members dot the hall, speaking in whispers.
“I'm very nervous; I do a lot of praying,” says Sharon Levin, mother of Jonathan Levin, 16, of Clayton, N.C. “Jonathan is committed and disciplined. He practices five hours a day, and I don't twist his arm.”
Like most of the others, Jonathan dreams of a career in music, concertizing and perhaps recording.
“It's a goal to work for, it's honing performance and competition skills, it's recognition for those long hours you spend by yourself practicing,” says CCM professor William Black, whose student Miko Hukki, 16, of Edgewood is the only local artist competing.
The contest is divided by age into three divisions. They play repertoire favored by the late Mr. Horowitz (1904-89), a legendary Russian pianist. Even the youngest contestants (11-, 12- and 13-year-olds on Wednesday) must learn fiendishly difficult pieces by Liszt, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Moszkowski.
Miko is second to perform. He is missing a day of school at Scott High, where his favorite subjects are math and science. Blond and serious, he has won other contests and played as soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
After an initial case of the jitters, he relaxed. When it is over, he looks relieved but tired. “Some things I played better than I'd ever played before. Others, .Ç.Ç.” he shrugs, unable to finish.
“You can't really approach it thinking you're going to win,” said judge Christopher Zimmerman, a CCM faculty member. The panel looks for a spark of personality, a quality that sets a pianist apart.
Another judge, Gregory Partain, a professor at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky., listens for “whatever an individual's strength might happen to be.
“If it happens to be brilliant, fabulous technique, I can be impressed by that,” he said. “If someone doesn't possess .Ç.Ç. technical perfection, I can be impressed by the soul behind it.”
After the 10 contestants have been heard, the panel deliberates.
“This is the worst part” said Jian Liu, 18, of Chandler, Ariz., feeling the pressure. He is philosophical. “Whatever comes out, I'll accept it,”
Mr. Wait announced the winners.
No one from the youngest division will go to Kiev. Maeve and Jian have won in their division. Michael Fennelly, 28, of New York and Soyoung Kee, 27, of Schaumberg, Ill., also will go to Kiev.
Mr. Black puts an arm around Miko, who won honorable mention.
“You tell them to go out there and perform beautifully, and not worry about winning or losing,” he said. “The most important thing is to feel that you've played well.”
