Talented young pianists enthrall patients at CRMC

By RICHARD A. ROSS

HARRIS, NY — For the past 13 years, a group of up to 12 of the world’s most talented young pianists have come to study for two weeks at the Shandelee Summer Music Festival. While as many as 60 may apply for admission by sending in CDs, DVDs or auditioning live, only a select few make it to the bucolic site, founded by Shandelee Music Festival President Daniel Stroup, who teaches piano at Manhattan School of Music.

Each young artist is afforded a rustic cabin with a five-foot concert grand piano to practice on. The concert hall features a nine-foot grand piano for performances. The students take lessons, practice about five hours a day, go to master classes with renowned pianist Ruth Slenczynska, and learn about piano technology from Christopher Kennedy, the head piano technician at the Metropolitan Opera.

There is ample opportunity for the students to perform at recitals, but perhaps the most rewarding opportunity comes in the two outreach concerts that bring students in contact with those least likely to ever have the opportunity to hear them. Each summer for the past four years, Shandelee Music Festival public relations director Barbara Konvalin has worked with Jodi Goodman, Community Services Director at Catskill Regional Medical Center, to arrange a concert by four of the Shandelee pianists for the patients in the Skilled Nursing Unit. This concert, held on August 18 and organized by Goodman and Plaintree Coordinator Anita Parkhurst, followed a similar concert held at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center on August 8.

The first to perform was Karali Soderquist, who hails from Idaho and has studied piano for 17 years, beginning at age three on her mother’s lap. She played a series of 12 preludes by Richard Cumming that transported listeners through diverse shifts of mood and tempo.

Next up was Esther Keel, a native of Los Angeles who has appeared as a recitalist throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Keel began her studies at age three and made her debut at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Now 21, she is entering her senior year at Julliard in New York City. Keel’s playing of Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor exuded emotion and flair.

Eighteen-year-old Markus Ling of West Nyack, NY, has 14 years of study behind him. Bound this fall for SUNY Purchase, Ling’s performance of the familiar strains of Chopin’s Nocturne in E flat Major, Op.9, No. 2 had had some of the patients humming. Many sat with their eyes closed, carried away by the music.

The final performer was Ja Yeon Ka, who was born in Korea and studied at the Peabody Institute with Yong Hi Moon for her Master’s Degree. Moon was on hand to teach and perform at the Shandelee Music Festival this summer.

Ja Yeon Ka’s playing of “Goyescas,” by Enrique Granados, featured music inspired by Goya’s paintings and filled with the rhythm and verve of flamenco.

The diverse selections of the four performers, their charming and engaging personalities and their superb playing was great therapy for the patients and a delight for all of the listeners.

Kudos to founder Stroup, Konvalin, Goodman, Parkhurst and the musicians themselves for bringing world-class music to a place one would least expect to hear it.