Stecher and Horowitz Foundation

Last updated

The Stecher and Horowitz Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in New York City founded by Melvin Stecher and Norman Horowitz, duo-pianists, music educators, composers, and educational consultants. Founded in 1975, the Foundation was an outgrowth of The Stecher and Horowitz School of the Arts in Cedarhurst, New York, where Messrs. Stecher and Horowitz served as directors for 39 years (1960–1999).

Contents

The Foundation provides mentorship, career guidance, artistic development, and performance opportunities for young pianists through the New York International Piano Competition (NYIPC) and the Young Artists Series. Instituted in 2002, NYIPC was originally open to American pianists, citizen-born, naturalized or full-time international students with student visas, ages 14–18. In 2009, the competition began to accept applications worldwide, effective the summer of 2010; it also expanded its age category upwards from 14–18 years to 16–21 years. [1] Winners of the NYIPC are awarded concert and recital appearances in the Foundation's Young Artists Series, which includes performance venues in New York, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C.

Documentary films

The Stecher and Horowitz Foundation, in association director Lucy Bruell, has produced three documentary films about NYIPC, which give a glimpse into the motivations and aspirations of the competitors and their families.

Speaking with Music (2002) is a one-hour documentary about a group of young pianists and how they express themselves emotionally and intellectually through their art. The film also presents a portrait of Melvin Stecher and Norman Horowitz, the duo pianist team who created the competition, contrasting what it was like for them as young performers in the 1950s with the challenges young pianists face today.

Beyond the Practice Room (2004) explores what motivates young pianists to perform and to take risks on stage, to experiment as artists. Parental influence, passion for music, dreams and expectations are among the many themes that are explored in this intimate, behind-the-scenes portrait of the contestants at the New York Piano Competition.

On a Personal Note (2008) explores the relationship between young classical pianists and their art, particularly how the personality and personal interpretation of each artist color a work of classical music.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pianist</span> Musician who plays the piano

A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz, blues, and popular music, including rock and roll. Most pianists can, to an extent, easily play other keyboard instruments such as the synthesizer, harpsichord, celesta, and the organ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha Argerich</span> Argentine pianist (born 1941)

Martha Argerich is an Argentine classical concert pianist. She is widely considered to be one of the greatest pianists of all time. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argerich gave her debut concert at eight before receiving further piano training in Europe. At an early age, she won several competitions, including the VII International Chopin Piano Competition, and has since recorded numerous albums and performed with leading orchestras worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vladimir Horowitz</span> Russian and American pianist (1903–1989)

Vladimir Samoylovich Horowitz was a Russian and American pianist. Considered one of the greatest pianists of all time, he was known for his virtuoso technique, timbre, and the public excitement engendered by his playing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van Cliburn</span> American pianist (1934–2013)

Harvey Lavan "Van" Cliburn Jr. was an American pianist. At the age of 23, Cliburn achieved worldwide recognition when he won the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958 during the Cold War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Powell</span> American composer

Mel Powell was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, and the founding dean of the music department at the California Institute of the Arts. He served as a music educator for over 40 years, first at Mannes College of Music and Queens College, then Yale University, and finally at CalArts. During his early career he worked as a jazz pianist. His classic Big Band compositions include "Mission to Moscow", "My Guy's Come Back", "Clarinade", "The Earl", and "Bubble Bath".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murray Perahia</span> American pianist and conductor

Murray David Perahia is an American pianist and conductor. He is widely considered one of the greatest living pianists. He was the first North American pianist to win the Leeds International Piano Competition, in 1972. Known as a leading interpreter of Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann, among other composers, Perahia has won numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards from a total of 18 nominations, and 9 Gramophone Awards in addition to its first and only "Piano Award".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Laredo</span> American classical pianist (1937–2005)

Ruth Laredo was an American classical pianist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lola Astanova</span> Musical artist

Lola Astanova is an Uzbek-born American pianist noted for her visual performances and piano transcriptions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fanny Waterman</span> English musician (1920–2020)

Dame Fanny Waterman was a British pianist and academic piano teacher, who is particularly known as the founder, chair and artistic director of the Leeds International Piano Competition. She was also president of the Harrogate International Music Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emanuel Ax</span> American pianist, music professor (1949)

Emanuel "Manny"Ax is a Grammy-winning American classical pianist. He is known for his chamber music collaborations with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinists Isaac Stern and Young Uck Kim, as well as his piano recitals and performances with major orchestras in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Dubal</span> American musician

David Dubal is an American pianist, teacher, author, lecturer, broadcaster, and painter.

Jeroen van Veen is a Dutch classical pianist and composer. He has worked both as a soloist and in collaboration with other pianists. Some of his collaborations include duo work with his brother Maarten and his wife Sandra.

Alessio Bax is an Italian classical pianist. He graduated from the Bari conservatory at the record age of 14. He won the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan at age 19 and the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition in 2000 after first participating in 1993. Bax was a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's CMS Two for three seasons, beginning in 2009. He also received the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2009. He studied at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with Basque pianist Joaquín Achúcarro. Bax is a Steinway Artist. He also serves on the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music as a professor of piano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Albright</span> American pianist and composer

Charlie Albright is an American pianist and composer. He is an official Steinway Artist, 2014 Avery Fisher Career Grant Recipient, 2010 Gilmore Young Artist (2010) and former Young Concert Artist. He graduated from Harvard College (AB) and the New England Conservatory (MM) as the first classical pianist in the schools' five-year AB/MM Joint Program, was named the Leverett House Artist in Residence for 2011–2012, and was one of the 15 Most Interesting Seniors of the Harvard College Class of 2011. He graduated from the Juilliard School of Music with his post-graduate Artist Diploma (AD) in 2014.

Alexander Djordjevic is an American classical concert pianist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giorgi Latso</span>


Giorgi Latso is a Georgian-American concert pianist, film composer, arranger, adjudicator, improviser and Doctor of Musical Arts. He is listed on the list of famous alumni from University of Southern California - Thornton School of Music. Latso has won several international piano competitions and awards. He is best known for his interpretations of Chopin and Debussy. His concerts have been broadcast on radio and television in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The New York International Piano Competition (NYIPC) in New York City is a biennial piano competition open to pianists of all nationalities ages 16–21. No contestant is eliminated during the competition's four rounds. A cash award is also presented to each of the contestants not receiving a major prize. The NYIPC has been held at the Manhattan School of Music since its inception in 2002, with opening ceremonies at Steinway Hall. Steinway and Sons is the official piano of the competition.

Melvin Stecher and Norman Horowitz, known as Stecher and Horowitz, are an American piano duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Kwan Loucks</span> American musician

Kevin Kwan Loucks is a Korean–American classical pianist, arts entrepreneur, and nonprofit executive. In September 2021, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Chamber Music America in New York City. He previously served as Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, a presenting organization in residence at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, and also served as Director of Innovation and Program Development at Music Academy of the West in Montecito, California. He co-founded Chamber Music | OC, an arts organization headquartered in Lake Forest, California, and is a founding member and current pianist of the award-winning piano trio, Trio Céleste.

References

  1. "Hemsing Associates | Roster".