Our Big Festival Day

This past Saturday my piano students and I went through the biggest event of the year for my studio: the OFMC District 3D Junior Festival. The event was held at Xavier University's Edgecliff Hall in Cincinnati and was populated by hundreds of music-making youngsters. I also participated as an adjudicator, and it was really fun to see (and comment on) so much young talent from the area.

Fifteen of my students (ranging in age from seven to seventeen) performed at the festival, which is pretty hard to believe when I think about it in total! But everyone did extremely well, and thanks to the event's organizers the day was a smooth-running success.

Four of my students qualified for the Honors Recital held in Edgecliff's Long Recital Hall that afternoon. To qualify, a student must obtain the highest rating from the adjudicators ("superior") for three consecutive years. It is quite an accomplishment since it demands quality performances over the long-term. This takes consistency and lots of dedicated practice!

You can see me below with two of my students just after the performance:


These accomplished young artists played some exciting repertoire. Monica (in the center) performed Ginastera's "Creole Dance" from his 12 American Preludes, and Sarahmarie (on the right) performed the Northwoods Toccata by Carol Klose. I also had two other students play at the recital (both of whom escaped having a picture taken): Zachary and Devon performed Myslivecek's Divertimento No. 6 and Tippette's Dance of Fire, respectively.

Congrats to everyone who was involved in the event - of course now it's time to start working on new repertoire!

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Sparks fly at Otterbein Recital

The OFMC District 3 Junior Honors Recital was held yesterday at Otterbein Retirement Center near Lebanon, OH. This recital honors District 3 participants who have achieved FOUR consecutive superior ratings, which is quite an accomplishment. This year I had one student who qualified and performed on the recital, Chase P. Congratulations to Chase, who played an energized and solid interpretation of “Prehistoric Processional” by composer Melody Bober. The recital featured 25 talented young people from the southern Ohio area. Many played some rather advanced repertoire, including Toccata by M. Cuellar, Newfound Gap by M. Kelsey, Macdowell’s Scotch Poem, Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca, and two waltzes by Chopin. It was really great to see so many committed young musicians reach this milestone, and I look forward to seeing some more students from my studio at the event next year.

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Nemith Studio Gets 100% Superiors

I'd like to send a hearty and sincere

to all of my students who participated in the OFMC Junior Festival earlier today: the Nemith studio is 13 for 13 in "Superior" ratings!

That's right; out of thirteen participants from my studio, everyone got a Superior rating. Many got the much-coveted Unanimous Superior rating, which means ALL the adjudicators were swept off their feet by your performances. Beautiful job, guys.

I'd like to take this chance to tell all of my students (and their families) how proud I am of today's accomplishments. Everybody prepared their music extremely well and I feel that this has been the best festival yet for the capable and talented members of the "Nemith Studio". Many of you played difficult compositions that required not only technical prowess but also artistic maturity. The musical growth of my students this year has been outstanding. Many thanks also need to go to all of my students' families for their support -- you had to put up with their festival pieces for quite some time!

Let's also hear it for your colleagues who played in the Honors Recital this afternoon in Bellarmine Chapel (they qualified by winning three consecutive superiors): Cory, Nathan, and Grace. You three sounded great. It was a very strong recital with lots of fabulous young pianists and you definitely deserved to be included. Way to go!

The picture below is of a trophy-totin' Nathan and his pleased teacher. It was taken just after the recital and awards ceremony.

Many people from my studio will be eligible for next year's Honors Recital, as well as the District Recital and even the State Convention in Colombus. Once I get my records house in order and double-check with the OFMC officials, I'll let everyone know individually and then post to the blog.

Once again, congrats on all of your success and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

(Tell Mom or Dad or both that Dr. Nemith is allowing you to take a day or two off from piano...)

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