2:00pm-4:00pm
Steinway Recital Hall at Steinway Gallery
334 East Hines Hill Road

Hudson, OH 44236

Presenter:  Dr. Paul Wirth, Artist in Residence at

University of Northwestern

FREE for NEOMTA members

$20 for non-NEOMTA members

Dr. Paul Wirth is a prominent figure in our national piano teaching community. With his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Temple University, and his Master and Doctorate degrees in Piano Performance from Indiana University, he co-founded and is now the Artistic Director of the Wirth Center for the Performing Arts in St. Cloud, MN, a bustling performing arts center with over 350 students taught by a faculty of twenty. Since 2015, he has also been on the faculty of the University of Northwestern, MN as Artist in Residence. Chosen as the 2004-05 Teacher of the Year by Thursday Musical, Wirth has taught numerous first prize-winning students of regional, national and international competitions - with thirty-six of his pre-college students having performed over eighty solo performances with orchestra, including appearances with the Minnesota and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestras. In addition to his presentations at conventions and conferences, Dr. Wirth’s GRAVI-DVD - a cutting edge DVD on teaching piano technique to children - is available on Youtube, with the Gravi-DVD II now in production.

His masterclasses, most recently at the University of Minnesota are always well received, and his presentations, drawing upon 37 years as a pre-college specialist teaching advanced concepts to 4 -18 year olds, often elicit further engagements. He is also an avid supporter of young performers, having co-founded the Salon se Lève concert series in Minneapolis and the internationally recognized Young Artist World Piano Festival at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN.  Dr. Wirth maintains four studios: at the Wirth Center for the Performing Arts in St. Cloud, MN, at the Schmitt Music Center in Brooklyn Center, MN, at the University of Northwestern MN, and at his home in St. Joseph, MN where he lives with his wife and greatest support, Kathy Wirth.

Pre-College students of NEOMTA members wishing to be considered for participation in this master class are required to submit:

1) An online application form.                                for form.

2) An unedited video recording (either Youtube link OR DVD is accepted)** 

• The video recording must include ONE work or movement for solo piano drawn from the standard repertoire. The piece must be memorized and performance-ready and should be the EXACT piece the student wishes to play in the masterclass.

• Intermediate-level repertoire (e.g. a Clementi Sonatina) and above will be accepted for the masterclass.

• Students 12 years of age and older are eligible to participate in this class.

• Only students of current NEOMTA members are eligible. 

• Videos should be of good audio/video quality and show the student's hands and body.  Any video submitted with poor audio/video will not be considered.

** If you are submitting a YOUTUBE LINK, please ensure that the video is "Unlisted" (before uploading the video, select "Unlisted" under Privacy settings).  Paste the URL onto the online application form.

If you are submitting a DVD RECORDING, please ensure that the DVD you are mailing includes the following information:

1) the name and age of the student

2) name of teacher

3) name of the work being performed

4) a contact email address and phone number. 

Please mail your DVD recording to:

Andrew Focks

4146 Bayard Road

South Euclid, OH 44121

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION AND VIDEO RECORDING IS MAY 10TH!
 

Late submissions will not be considered.

An adjudicator will be appointed to review the recordings and select the master class performers. 

Notification of accepted students will be made via email on or before May 15th.

All questions can be addressed to NEOMTA President Andrew Focks (andrew.focks@gmail.com).