2015 Paderewski Youth Piano Competition Winners
Winners of the ninth annual Paderewski Festival Youth Piano Competition, held October 24 at Cass Winery in Paso Robles, were drawn from fifteen young pianists from three Central Coast (Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Luis Obispo) and Fresno Counties, who competed for cash prizes of $100-$750, the opportunity to perform at the Youth Piano Competition Winners’ Recital on November 7 during the 2015 Paderewski Festival, and the chance to participate in the Festival’s 2017 Cultural Exchange Program in Poland. Presided by Marek Żebrowski, Paderewski Festival Artistic Director and Director of the Polish Music Center at University of Southern California, the Competition jury included India d’Avignon, a Cal Poly Professor and Paderewski Festival Board member and Paul Woodring, accompanist and coach at Cal Poly.
After hearing this year’s applicants, the jury decided to award the following prizes and performed noted pieces at Winners' Recital.
First Place, Senior Division:
Anton de La Fuente (16), a Junior at Monterey High School and student of Lyn Bronson, performed Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in D minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Vol. II and Frederic Chopin’s Ballade in G minor, Op. 23.
Second Place, Senior Division:
Jane Yang (15), a Sophomore at Pacific Grove High School, student of Lyn Bronson, and finalist in the 2014 Paderewski Youth Piano Competition (Honorable Mention), performed Joseph Haydn’s Sonata in E minor, Hob. XVI/34 I. Presto and Ignacy Jan Paderewski’s Menuet, Op. 14 no.1.
First Place, Junior Division:
Luke Kim (14), a Freshman at Cate School, Carpinteria and student of Dr. Egle Januleviciute, performed Frederic Chopin’s Polonaise in A major, Op. 40 no. 1.
Second Place, Junior Division:
Sarah Girges (10), fifth grade homeschooler from Santa Maria and student of Dr. Lynne Garrett, performed Frederic Chopin’s Grande Valse Brillante, Op. 34 no. 2.
Third Place, Junior Division:
Holly Hadsall (10), fifth grader at Mountain View Elementary School, Santa Barbara, student of Lana Bodnar, and Second Place winner at the 2014 Paderewski Youth Piano Competition, performed Sergei Prokofiev’s Prelude in C major, Op. 12 no. 7.
