Emiko Edwards, a rising sophomore at High School North, and Xiaopei Xu, 17, of Lititz, Pennsylvania, received first prize ensemble at the New York Piano Competition, held June 22 to 27 at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. The duo performed five pieces for four hands by composers Faur, and Corigliano, in addition to competing as soloists. They share in a cash award of $3,”250.##M:[more]##
A national competition since 2002, 22 contestants, ages 14 to 18, from across the continental United States and Hawaii, entered the competition, having first been selected by a screening jury. The opening ceremonies were held at Steinway Hall and a banquet dinner following the awards presentation was held at the Lotos Club, one of the oldest literary clubs in America.
In addition to the same pieces for four hands that all contestants were required to perform as a duo, the solo repertory requirements included: a prelude and fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach; the first movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven; a significant Romantic composition (or group of shorter pieces) by Chopin, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms, or Liszt; a Chopin etude; a 20th or 21st century composition, and the first movement of a concerto. All contestants were also required to perform “Improvisation and Fugue,” a new composition by John Musto.
Edwards entered Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division in the fall of 2007 and studies with Professor Julian Martin. She began piano study at the age of six with Ray Landers and continued her studies with Ingrid Clarfield for close to eight years. She has studied with Chiu-Tze Lin and Chiu-Ling Lin.
Edwards was the New Jersey State winner of the Music Teachers National Association’s Performance Competition in the Senior Division and the Junior Division in 2006 and 2005, respectively. She also plays cello and is a member of the school’s orchestra.
Edwards, who has performed at Patriots Theater at the Trenton War Memorial to benefit the Hope For Henry Foundation, has both organized and performed at numerous concerts for the benefit of senior citizens at managed care facilities in New Jersey.
“I appreciate the tremendous support that was provided by the staff at North as I prepared for the competition,” she says.
