lessons learned in Fort Worth

Playing the piano is to transmit your energy to the audience by the piano an your body as media. Not physical energy but your "humane" energy. This   I learned. Twas a precious experience.

competition repertoire

Next week at the 6th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, I've submitted the following pieces to perform:

Preliminary: 10-12 min
S. Rachmaninoff, Moments Musicaux Op. 16 No. 2 (3')
I. Albeniz, El Albaicin from Iberia Vol. 3 (8')

Semifinal: 16-20 min.
J. S. Bach, Well-Tempered Clavier Vol. 1, No. 3, BWV848 C sharp major, Prelude and Fugue (5')
A. Scriabin, Sonata No. 10, Op. 70 (13')

Final: 25-30 min.
L. v. Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 29, Op. 106, 4th movement (12')
F. Liszt, Reminiscences of Don Juan (16')

Among these six pieces, only two pieces are actually competition-ready ones, i.e. Albeniz and Scriabin, and other four not... nonetheless they are the pieces I cherish and at least I have the "view of the world" in each which are grandiose.
Critical is to what extent I can enjoy my own performance at a great stage set for us.

what jury want?

In performing at (or preparing for, for that matter) a competition stage, we all need to keep in mind what the jury want.
It is easier to identify what they hate in the first place.
They do not want to hear you play too tense.
They do not want to hear someone who obviously attempts to show off his ow her mechanic (not technique).
They do not want to hear something way out of what the composer specified, and that violates basic rules of music, unless you are absolutely confident that you intentionally constructed that piece and that sounds convincing.
They do not like colorless music.

On the contrary, they love to hear your love of the music, your love of the piece, your love of performing in public, your love of the instrument, and the sign that you cherish the moment.

They came to play

The DVD on the last (5th) van cluburn amateur documentary has just arrived and watched it!
It is very clear that participants are extremely talented and they very much dedicated themselves to piano, while many of them have day jobs and other commitments.
It is just wonderful to be able to join them later this month and share common interests and love of music. Surely it would be one of those unforgettable experiences!

IPCOA

Only three weeks to go to the upcoming IPCOA in Fort Worth...
Among the five pieces I've been preparing for this competition, I've not yet reached the public performance level for two short pieces, Bach and Rachmaninoff, and the long one by Beethoven.
Maybe I should focus more on the preliminary pieces...