Local pianist shine in Liberace competition

Heather Cory

Kevin Meng, 10, practices recently at the Liberace Museum. He is one of 11 people participating Sunday in the Liberace Piano Competition.

By Frances Vanderploeg

Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 | midnight

Liberace Piano Competition

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The name Liberace brings to mind rhinestone-covered cars and pianos, extravagant costumes, candelabras and, most importantly, immense musical talent.

To carry on the legacy of piano performance and showmanship, the Liberace Museum is holding its 15th annual Liberace Piano Competition.

A total of 26 pianists from Henderson, Summerlin, Las Vegas, California, Montana, Alabama and Mexico, were chosen to compete. The musicians range in age from 6 to 59 years old. Anyone who wanted to enter the competition was required to submit an application, which included a video recording, by early July.

The video served as a preliminary round, ensuring all of the competitors were of high enough skill and quality to move on to the semi-finals. Everyone who entered moved to the semi-finals.

They entered for different reasons, from a desire to one day be famous to studying with a piano teacher who encourages her students to enter.

Summerlin resident Natalie Rule, 8, said she was inspired to start playing the piano at 3 years old by her 12-year-old brother, Nicholas. "My brother played so I thought I could follow in his footsteps," Natalie said.

A former Liberace competitor, Nicholas decided not to enter the competition this year so Natalie could have her time to shine, but he plans to return next year. Having him there to cheer her on is nice but, she said, she's still a little bit nervous.

"Maybe a lot nervous," she added with a laugh.

There is one brother-sister group in the competition. Henderson residents Audrey Meng, 13, and Kevin Meng, 10, are each performing.

Audrey is entered in the Classical Senior Division for ages 12-17, and Kevin in the Classical Junior Division for ages 12 years and younger.

Competitors may also perform in the Classical Open Division, for those enrolled in a music program at an accredited institute of higher education. The Showmanship Division is open to all ages and levels of talent. The top three from each category will compete in the finals.

Students receive scholarship money for winning the competition. First place in the junior and senior divisions receives a $500 scholarship; first in the open division receives a $1,000 scholarship; and first in showmanship receives a $1,000 check. Second and third places receive certificates. Additionally, the Liberace Foundation, which sponsors the event, will work to create other performance opportunities for the winners.

Audrey said the perseverance required to learn new songs on the piano pays off in other ways, too, such as at school.

Just as you don't always get a song the first time you play it, she said, you don't always get what's going on at school, either. By playing the piano, though, she knows she should stick with anything she's trying to learn and eventually it will come to her, she said.

Summerlin resident Amanda Stewart, 15, said the same thing, noting that learning to play the piano and has helped her memorize things better, including her schoolwork. It also provides a lesson in motivation.

"Once you start doing it, you like it more," she said.

Summerlin resident Grace Kim, 14, said she is naturally motivated, partially by her desire to someday be recognized for her piano-playing ability. It's what has driven her to enter and prepare for the competition for multiple years.

"I practice more, harder (before competition)," she said.

For the Liberace competition, students are able to play any classical song of their choosing. They had to send in the music for approval, but otherwise the music is up to them. Most said they didn't worry too much about how difficult the piece was.

"I just consider what I like," Amanda said.

Whether what they like is easier or more difficult doesn't come in to play much, they said.

"It just depends on how the piece sounds," Audrey said. "Some may require you to practice more, so it's partially how much time you want to spend (practicing)."

Audrey and Kevin said the try to practice a little bit every day, though each of the competitors agreed they practice most days of the week.

"It takes time to get your piece perfect," Kevin said.

Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or frances.vanderploeg@hbcpub.com.