Rockingham native and pianist, Reid Smith, has been invited to join the faculty of the 15th International Granada Spain Piano Festival.
Smith is inviting interested pianists, ages 6-26, to audition for a spot at the festival.
“In the past, The Granada Piano Festival has drawn about 65-70 students mostly from Europe and Asia,” said Smith. “This will be the first year that a professor from the states has been invited and American students will be included in the festival and competition.”
There are no specific repertoire requirements for the audition, but applicants must prepare a 10 to 15 minute memorized program for study and concert performances at the festival. The festival will be July 17-28.
For the audition, a 10 minute CD recording must be submitted by May 17 to Smith. In lieu of a recording, local auditions are available in Raleigh by appointment. The North Carolina contact for arranging an audition in Raleigh is jhreske@aol.com. Students who are accepted from the auditions will be given some guidance and direction, if needed, about additional pieces to prepare. Students are encouraged to present one Spanish piece. Additional details about the festival can be accessed at DrReidSmith.com.
Smith will be on the jury of the second International Maria Herrero Piano Competition, during the festival.
“For the competition, students are accepted in four age groups: Infantile to age 12, Juvenile to age 15, Young Artist to age 18, and Mature Artist to age 30,” said Smith. “There are multiple prize winners in each category, and the value of the prizes varies from 1,000 to 1,820 Euros depending on the age group.”
Students attending the festival, in addition to private lessons, master classes, attending concerts through Granada and being in the midst of a world-class tourist destination will also have a rare opportunity to observe an international piano competition with applicants from many countries.
Students are often particularly interested in participating because they receive documentation of having been invited to perform at an international festival, and can include that distinction on college applications. They also receive an opportunity to take lessons from esteemed professionals from around the world.
Smith is a graduate of The Julliard School and the Vienna Hochschule fur Musik. He was on the faculty of the 2007 Yves Nat International Music Festival in France, the 2009 Gabala International Music Festival in Azerbaijan, the 2010 Varallo Festival in Italy, and the 2011 Norma, Italy International Piano Festival. He has served as a juror for many competitions including most recently the 8th International Parnassos Piano Competition in Monterrey, Mexico in February 2011.
Smith is the Director of the Dellwood Hills Piano School in St. Paul, Minn., where he teaches 130 students. He has recorded several CDs including the Complete Etudes by Chopin.
“I taught Reid at Rockingham High School,” said former teacher Rebecca Howell of Ellerbe. “He was an excellent student, and very creative in many ways — especially his piano playing.”
Smith is a specialist at developing the potential of young pianists ages 4-26, and this festival offers the possibility for students in Richmond County to be included in this opportunity. In addition, some students may be invited for summer studies in St. Paul, as a participant in the Dellwood Hills Piano Festival this June.
Several local pianists have attended summer festivals with Smith in the past including Josh Chen, John Tyson and Carrie Ann Mercer of Rockingham. Smith can be reached at DrReidSmith@aol.com.
— Staff Writer Kelli Easterling can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at keasterling@heartlandpublications.com
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