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After months of procastination, I submitted my application for attending the amateurs program, with just an hour to spare before the deadline. . My chosen concerto is the first movement of Prokofiev 3. If I had more time, I would have loved to do both the first and the third movement, but it’s better to focus on just one movement and make it better give I the time constraints.

I just recorded three tracks: Medtne, Medtner and (here is a surprise) Bach yesterday. Just audio, on an out of tune piano... blemishes, yes, mistakes too many, but...

Ken, I listened to your stuff. The Bach was truly magnificent. Lovely voicing and perfect balancing of textures. You'll be a star at Piano Texas. I just hope I'll be there with you to enjoy this wonderful opportunity to make music.

So I'm more nervous about this one than I was about Cliburn. I figure if I practice hard, I'll jinx it, but if I don't I'll screw up. I want to buy plane tickets, but there's no way I'm going if I don't get in. Not to Texas in June. So anybody heard anything yet? I don't care if you're honest. It will be a relief, frankly, either way.

Meanwhile, here's a fun quiz. What concerto movement(s)? Just copy and paste the below bit.

SiFi: Brahms D minor concerto, last movement
Ken: Prokofiev 3rd concerto, first movement
Coaster: . . .

Seriously, that was the first solo Bach I learned in 30 years...

Well you know what they say about fine wines . . .

...made a little wine 50 years ago. Nowadays I'm lucky to produce a demitasse of MD 20/20 every year or so...

So I just checked the Piano Texas web page and found this on the application page:

PianoTexas
@PianoTexas
We received countless applications from around the world. Now the Selection Jury needs to choose the performers for all our programs. Pianist Dmitry Rachmanov is one of the three members of the Selection Jury. Let's enjoy his performance of Scriabin. https://youtu.be/DDb0OPM2VfU

"Countless applications" for 18 spots? I really am toast. Now realizing I should have done a professional recording.

I doubt you have any need for concern. I suspect it means just that they didn't count them.

I've heard through the grapevines that acceptance for the Young Artists program has been announced.

Seems like they’re sending out notifications now. I was accepted, as was Robert Finley. Anyone else hear anything?

I'm in!

Great!! I’m really looking forward to this. Are you doing the dorm thing?

Me, too!

We gonna rock Texas, babe! (You more than me, probably.)

Congrats to all of you! Looking forward to following your performances, and am wishing I could have applied!

Congrats to all of you!!!!!!! 👏👏👏

Thank you!

Congratulations to all who are accepted. I live in Dallas and hope to get over there to hear some of your performances. Good luck to all of you.

If any of you would like having a PW colleague in your audience, feel free to PM me your names so I can search the program for your performance times and venues.

Anyone else going to PianoTexas getting ticked off at how long it's taking to get good information? Do we need to get there the day before orientation, for example? Or are we expected on the same day? When are they going to publish the names of the participants? I haven't bought plane tickets yet, but this thing is happening in less than two months. Ranting now, but I think all will be well ultimately.

SiFi: I don't recall that any of these events (including competitions) have said when to arrive. (Have they?)
As far as I remember, they've never done more than to tell us when stuff is, and leave it to us to decide when it's best to arrive.

BTW there have been some people who felt they not only didn't have to arrive the day before orientation or the day of orientation, nor early on the first day of the actual thing, but not necessarily till after they were supposed to play.

(One such person wound up winning.)