9:30-10:00 Pre-Meeting Discussion
Performer: Lam Wong
Pre-Meeting Mini Concert
Alexander Scriabin - Nocturne in D-flat major for the Left Hand, Op. 9 No. 2
Claude Debussy - Suite bergamasque, L. 75
Prélude
Menuet
Clair de lune
Passepied
Claude Debussy - L'isle joyeuse, L. 106
BIOGRAPHY
Known for “great imagination and extraordinary musicality” (Shantou Daily) in his playing, classical pianist Lam Wong made his debut with Liszt: 12 Études d’exécution transcendante at the age of fourteen. He has since appeared in numerous festivals and concert venues in Asia and North America. He has also worked with distinguished artists Marc-André Hamelin, Mikhail Voskresensky, and performed in master classes of Boris Berman, Richard Goode, Robert Levin, Nelita True, and Arie Vardi. He is also the winner of the Thaviu-Isaak Piano Competition, Lillian Fuchs Competition, Dover Competition, and finalist of MTNA Chamber Music Competition. As an avid chamber musician, Wong performed in chamber music festivals, including Sarasota Music Festival, Ravinia Festival Steans Music Institute, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Manchester Music Festival, and Aspen Music Festival. His recent chamber performance can be heard on the radio station WFMT in Chicago.
Wong maintains a wide range of research interests in topics ranging from performance practice to piano pedagogy. As an active member and presenter, he has held sessions at state and national conferences. His recent presentations include a research topic on Beethoven’s Manuscript at the Illinois State Music Teacher Association (ISMTA) Conference (2022), a study on Piano Four-Hand Repertory at the Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) Virtual Conference (2021), and a pedagogical topic on Developing Sight-Reading Fluency at the ISMTA Conference (2019).
As the Coordinator of Piano Pedagogy Courses, Wong currently teaches undergraduate and graduate piano pedagogy courses at Northwestern Bienen School of Music. In addition to his teaching duties at the University, he is also on the faculty of the Northwestern Music Academy, offering private and group lessons. His teaching experience includes working with students of all ages and levels while on the faculties of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and Music Conservatory of Illinois. He frequently adjudicates at local festivals, competitions, and standardized exams. His students have won regional piano competitions and scholarship auditions, earned high honors and distinctions in standardized exams, and been accepted into some of the country’s finest music schools to study music.
Wong holds a bachelor’s degree from Manhattan School of Music, and a master’s from Yale School of Music. He is currently pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance and pedagogy at Northwestern University, studying with James Giles. His previous teachers include Hung-Kuan Chen, Christopher Elton, Peter Frankl, and Marc Silverman. As a piano performance and pedagogy dual major, he also works closely with the Former Director of Piano Pedagogy, Dr. Marcia Bosits, at Northwestern University.
10:00-11:00 Business Meeting
Meeting will be led by NSMTA President, George Radosavljevic followed by refreshments.
11:00-12:00 Program
Presenter: Regina Syrkin
Program: Russian Piano School: Myths and Truth
As you will see from my bio I have extensive experience in teaching piano.
Of course I keep comparing my "American" experience with my "Russian" one and in my teaching I try to use the best example from both.
Very often I read in different articles and heard at different presentations about the so called Russian piano method which I never heard of being a student at Russian school of music. On the other hand I'd like to share some tips I did learn there which helped me a lot in teaching until nowadays.
I hope it will be helpful to some young teachers.
As I mentioned, I will focus mostly on technique and repertoire.
BIOGRAPHY
Regina Syrkin received her Master degree in Piano performance, Piano pedagogy, Chamber music and Accompaniment from Belarusian State Conservatory in Minsk, Belarus (former Soviet Union).
Worked at Gomel Music College in Belarus as Piano instructor and was appointed a Head of Collaborative Piano Department.
In 1990 Immigrated to USA and in since 1991 began to work as a piano instructor in Chicago area music schools:
People’s Music School 1991-1993
Suzuki-Orff School of Music 1992-1998
Lake Forest Symphony Music School, later Music institute of Chicago 1993-2009
DePaul University School of Music, Community School Division 1993-present