Piano guild auditions draw 34 participants

BLUFFTON - The annual Findlay Ohio Piano Guild auditions will take place Tuesday and May 10 in Yoder Recital Hall at Bluffton University. Twenty-three students will play memorized programs of three to 15 pieces and musicianship phases of sight-reading, transposition, scales and ear-training. The auditions establish yearly goals for students of all levels encouraging growth and enjoyment through the study of classical piano literature. Participating teachers receive feedback from the judge on the effectiveness of their teaching efforts. Special recognition goes to Miki Kawamura, who will be receiving the Paderewski Gold Medal for playing 10-piece memorized programs for 10 years. Her picture and name will be printed next spring in the guild magazine, Piano Guild Notes. Elizabeth Smiraldo is playing an international program of 15 pieces for the second year. Students playing national programs of 10 memorized pieces include Elyse Clark, Ian Luo, Max Ruetty, Ella Smiraldo, Jada Smith and Bethany Wappelhorst. Teachers are Kathleen Price, Eleanor McCoy and Joan Benedict. This year's adjudicator is Merrill Cooper-Bender of Marion.