(PTP) Can you tell our readers a bit more about your background?
(LP) I was born in Azerbaijan. During the war in 1989 my family and I escaped to Ukraine. I graduated from Donetsk Music Academy in Ukraine; as a student I received several prizes in competitions, among others in one in Israel which led to me coming to the US in 2011. Here, In the US, I graduated from Manhattan School of Music and the Hartt School of the University of Hartford. While living in the US, I have won several more prizes in international competitions. Currently, I’m residing in the Boston area and I’m concertizing a lot.
What led you to start the Young Stars International Piano Competition?
The main purpose of the competition was to help young pianists who are staying home during the pandemic to continue practice, make music, and be heard. Given the current circumstances, when all live recitals are on hold, as a concert pianist I understand how important the performances are as it is a great stimulus in our development.
Each participant had to record a video during a period of 35 days. To make sure the recording was made during the pandemic, the pianist had to close the fallboard (the hinged protective covering that protects the keyboard of a piano when it is not being played) after the performance. Otherwise, some students could send a recording from last year, better piano, etc. and not be equal to each other. Besides the first three prizes, we offered several prizes for the best classical sonata, best etude, best baroque piece and best romantic piece. All prizewinners are invited to perform in a recital in June 2021 in Massachusetts, and in addition will participate in a free masterclass. The panel of judges consisted of internationally recognized pianists such as Nino Bakradze, Anastasia Seifetdinova, Byeol Kim and myself.
Editor’s Note: The fallboard would not normally need to be closed after a performance, so requiring competitors to close the fallboard at the end of their recordings ensures that videos were recorded specifically for this competition.
How many countries are the musicians who participate in the competition from? Which countries? How many competitors are there overall?
Children from all over the world submitted their recordings, including children from Germany, Malaysia, Australia, Poland, Canada, Macedonia, Thailand, US, Taiwan, UK, Italy, India, Lithuania, and Azerbaijan.
What do you look for when judging a given competitor’s performance?
I'd say a judge looks for personality, and of course professionalism. We need to see good training, and certainly technique and sound production. It’s a combination of everything.
We have a rule that none of the jury members can send their own students or any other connections related to them. We don’t particularly pay attention to the country a student comes from but rather with whom they are studying rather than in what country they live in.
The Young Stars International Piano Competition places an emphasis on the importance of performance. What do you think makes performance so valuable (particularly for young musicians)?
In every performance there are elements of improvisation and unpredicabilities that make it unique and valuable. It's important to musicians to perform, share music and be heard.
How is performing virtually (online) different than performing in person?
When you are performing in person, you don't have a chance to replay it. Sometimes you don't even have a chance to try the piano. When it is an online recording, participants can record it several times and choose the best recording. It gives young pianists a chance to improve their skills while recording themself as well as if they are listening to their recordings. There is also an advantage for the members of the jury, as we can relisten to some of the recordings, which can't happen during the performance in person.
In addition to running this competition, what has been your professional focus recently? Any other projects, performances, teaching, etc.?
In addition to this competition, I’ll be playing several recitals coming up which will be without an audience, but live streamed. I'm learning a new repertoire. I'm also teaching piano lessons; now, as everyone else, I'm teaching online.
As a musician, how has the pandemic affected you? How do you think it has affected musicians overall?
Of course, it affected all of us musicians financially. Let's stay positive. If you have passion and desire, you will always play, practice, learn new repertoire and perform, and teach online. I'm glad to see many of my colleagues are doing some great projects: online recitals and masterclasses, and online interviews.
What is your favorite part about playing the piano and being a concert pianist?
The opportunity to perform and share great music. The ability to share the inner world, emotions and soul. As well as to travel and see new places.
Nominated for Picture This Post BEST OF 2020
Nominated for Picture This Post BEST OF 2020