The Seattle International Piano Festival sounds off Sept. 19 at Benaroya Hall, a three-day event drawing judges and competitors from all around the world and will showcase some of the world's greatest talents.
Forty-two pianists from as far away as Korea, Finland and Malaysia, as well as parts of the United States and Canada, have been chosen as finalists for the competition.
"The competition has five categories," said event co-founder Chris Bowlby. "There will be other events and master classes but the competition is really the center."
Among the international panel of judges is Magnolia resident, Helena Azevedo. "People are flying in from all around the world," Azevedo said. "It's very exciting."
Azevedo grew up in Belem, Brazil and brings to the panel a wealth of knowledge and an impressive music career.
Azevedo began taking piano lessons at age five and was enrolled a year later in a music conservatory.
Her career took off at 18 when she received a full-scholarship to travel to the United States to pursue her music education.
Azevedo attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned a bachelor's degree in music and theater performance. She earned a master's and a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Texas, Austin. From there, she performed professionally and taught master classes in Texas, Brazil, California, Colorado and Canada.
After all her years of training, she never really had a chance to feel nervous before a performance.
"I competed when I was so young and did so many concerts that it prepares you," she said. "I guess the older I get, I have a chance to notice my surroundings more which gives me butterflies sometimes, but I really get more excited than nervous."
Azevedo now teaches at Shoreline Community College and offers private lessons in Magnolia.
Bowlby said this competition would differ from many in that the competitors will play shorter pieces.
"Most competitions have many rounds and the performers actually have to prepare quite a bit of material. The professionals in this competition will just play 15 minutes a shot, which means the participants need to really put together the best of what they can show," he said. "I think it's going to produce a little more fireworks than they [competitions] usually do."
The festival also has youth categories. "It's pretty exciting that we have youth coming from mid America," said Bowlby.[[In-content Ad]]
