An awesome recital was held on Saturday afternoon, June 10, at Shelter Rock Church featuring the talented and enthusiastic Port Washington students of the multi-media piano studio of Ruth Pleines.
The in-person and Zoom audience of family and friends were appreciative of the pianists’ choice of solos and duets reflective of the various music eras.
Nate Sim welcomed the guests.
The concert began with the Star Spangled Banner played by Luca Pedicini.
Before performing, each student introduced themself and three chosen pieces from their repertoire, citing history and details about the pieces or composers.
Performers included Gari Banks, Juliette Fisher, Sophie Harford, Agathi Katechis, Katerina Katechis, Luca Pedicini, Cole Reardon, Una Sandler, Layla Sanghrajka, Nate Sim, Morgan Sim, Abigail Smith, Kate Stols, Alayna Swanson, Hannah West and Violet Worms.
Smith, a Schreiber High School senior who studied with Pleines for 11 years, concluded the program with her all-time favorite pieces Fantasia in D Minor by Mozart and Clair de Lune by Debussy.
Achievement certificates were presented to Fisher, Harford and Stols for a few short months of piano and music study.
Diplomas and pins were presented to students receiving honors in performance in the 2023 National Guild Audition, having fulfilled the requirements and thereby admitting them to the National Fraternity of Student Musicians.
The audition was held June 2 at The Community Synagogue in Sands Point.
The adjudicator granted all students superior scores for their individual program, which included transposing and ear training.
District winners with a four-piece memorized program included Smith and Worms.
State winners with a seven-piece memorized program included Katerina Katechis, Reardon and Sandler.
National winners with a 10-piece memorized program included Banks, Agathi Katechis, Pedicini, Sanghrajka, Nate Sim, Morgan Sim, Swanson and West.
Pleines thanked the pianists for their dedicated achievements, motivation and self-discipline. Appreciation was expressed to the parents for their continued support and commitment to their child’s music education.
With gratitude to the students, and to their delight, each was given a special take-home bag of refreshments.
