Cultural Events

The 2012 Winners of the Chopin Piano Competition will perform in the Main Tent at 3:00 pm on Saturday, June 1

J.T. Sterle      
Polonaise in G# Minor (Posthumous)

JT Sterle, a student of Mrs. Bella Brusilovsky, has proven what a lot of hard work, passion, and dedication can do.  JT is 11 years old and a 6th grade student at Okte Elementary.  He continues to participate in NYSSMA, NYSTMA, and the Piano Guild with outstanding results.  JT received “Outstanding with distinction” at NYSTMA and “Superior Plus” at the Piano Guild two years in a row.  He achieved “Runner-up” at his first Young Chopin Competition in 2011 and was the winner of his first Tchaikovsky Competition in 2012.  JT shares accompanies his school choir and inspires younger students with his performances and passion for music.

Hsuan-Wen Huang                 
Fantasie Impromptu, op. 66                                                Mazurka Opus 59, No. 2

Alice Huang is an 9th grade student of KODA Middle School in Clifton Park.. She has been playing Piano for 7 years and marimba for 3 years. She likes reading and sketching. Her favorite school subjects are ART and Physical Education.

Alice would like to express her greatest thanks to Mrs. Moran for her patience and teaching.

Christopher Bangert-Drowns   
Scherzo in C# Minor, Opus 39
Etude Opus 25, No. 12

Christopher Bangert-Drowns, is a 2012 graduate of Albany High School.  He has studied piano at The Music Studio (Albany, NY) since 1st grade, beginning with Noel Liberty and, in the last several years, with Joseph Fennimore.  Christopher also spent many summers at The Luzerne Music Center, studying with Toby Blumenthal, Cynthia Tobey, and Aniko Sokody.  While at LMC, Christopher performed in master classes with Charles Abramovic (accompanist for Midori), and Andre Schub.  Christopher enjoys all genres of music and studies jazz piano with John Nazarenko in Saratoga.  In 2007, Christopher won first place at the Chopin Apprentice level.  Christopher is a founding member of the Young Avila Performers (Albany).  He has performed in the annual Young Performers Showcase for many years at the Sembrich Museum (Lake George). Chris has a keen interest in political activism and philosophy.  He ultimately plans to pursue a graduate degree in nanoscience.