PRESS RELEASE: Thousand Islands International Piano Competition Winners 2016
Winners in the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition were announced Sunday, September 11, 2016 at the conclusion of the three day event. The competition was in Cape Vincent NY on the grounds of the historic Maple Grove Estate.
In the Junior category (under age 19), the $2000 first place went to William Chen (age 13) from New York City. The $1000 second place award went to Heather Gu (age 16) from Troy, Michigan. No third place prize was awarded. Heather Gu was selected by audience members as their favorite pianist in this division, winning a $200 prize. This prize money is from the audience members who voted for their favorite pianist.
In the Senior category (ages 19-25), the $2000 first place prize went to Dasha Koltunyuk from Princeton NJ. She is a Princeton University graduate who studies piano with a private teacher in New York City. Two $1000 Second place awards went to Maria Parrini from Greenville, South Carolina, a Cleveland Institute student and Alexander Kai-Yi Lo from Washington Township, New Jersey. He is a student at the Eastman School of Music. The $500 third place was presented to Nathan Cheung of Pleasanton, California who is also an Eastman student. Audience awards of $200 each went to Maria Parrini and Kevin Wang. Kevin is completing his BA in Piano Performance at the Eastman School of Music.
Once again, the community of Cape Vincent extended a warm welcome to all of the competitors and their families. Committee member express many thanks for all the generous monetary donations from individuals, local civic groups and businesses! Thanks also go out to families who hosted the contestants and all the volunteers who worked during the three day event. Without this support the Cape Vincent Arts Council alone could not provide this program for young people.
If you have any questions, please contact Liz Brennan at (315) 654-2480 or myself (Donna Essegian) at (315) 501-4023
