Nina Simone yields a Tchaikovsky winner
NewsThe first Nina Simone Piano Competition, staged in Cincinnati for African American pianists, has been won by Clayton Stephenson from Brooklyn, New York.
Stephenson, 24, was the first Black contestant at the Van Cliburn Competition last year. He played the Tchaikovsky first piano concerto and went home with a $50,000 cheque.
You should report also on the 2nd Chopin competition on period instruments which needed a few days ago
Absolutely ridiculous that Eric Guo won, especially with his interviews where he freely admitted a lack of experience with period instruments, and all he needed was his “imagination.” Piotr Pawlak was heads and shoulders beyond.
I totally agree with this and feel exactly the same way about Piotr Pawlak. He was magnificent. Guo’s comments were a slap in the face for that kind of competition.
That won’t happen. Period instruments and period performance practice occupy the bottom rung of classical music respectability. In the infrequent occasions when they are mentioned, the comments tend toward the snarky and dismissive.
They do not occupy the bottom rung of ‘respectability’. Have you heard of Les Arts Florissant at all (just to name one world-ranking orchestra)?? You need to get out more.
I should hope so, only their vast success seems to speak otherwise.
It will be more like only 20k, once he’s been taxed….which he will be.
Unpopular but true, and with inflation, chop off a 0 at the end.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??!!!!! You’re kidding us, right?
If this $50k brings his total annual income up to (I’m being optimistic) $100K his federal + NY state + SocSec tax will be about $28K.
The tax on his $50k prize would thus be about $14K.
Contributions to retirement plans and other clever dodges could reduce the tax further.
Government is what makes civilization possible and you can’t have government without taxes.
There are several government-less regions in the world if you prefer that, but good luck holding a piano competition in them.
Congratulations Clayton. Nice to see some good news posted here on Slipped Disc.
Not much of a competition if all whites, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans were excluded from the competition. And if he is that good then no doubt he will be successful in “open” competitions.
Clayton Stephenson was a very worthy competitor in the final round of the most recent Cliburn competition. Won by a Korean. I think he’s already shown that he can compete with the best.
Yes, he advanced to the Cliburn final stage while attending Harvard as an economics major. Meanwhile, he performed at the 2022 Gilmore Festival as a Gilmore Young Artist with different repertoire and a concerto performance, just one month before the Cliburn competition.
Is there a competion open only to White American pianists ?
Yes, the Harry Collier Piano Competition, which offers pianists the Grand Prize of $100, which is the bounty that Harry Collier’s piano career makes possible.
Lots of white people are interested in that competition!
Joshua Mhoon won 2nd place with the Rach 2 piano concerto. His review in the Cincinnati newspaper was superb.
I see that my comment has been redacted again! You could have the courtesy to inform me as such.
He was not the first black at the Cliburn. Sodi Braide was a contestant in 2005.
Right. Clayton Stephenson is, according to a page on Carnegie Hall’s website promoting his upcoming performance at Weill Recital Hall, “the first Black finalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.” He is not, however, the first Black contestant, as Michael notes. That distinction may belong to Joel Martin, who became the first African-American entrant in 1985. Does anyone here know if any non-American Black competitors preceded Martin?
He was the first Black Cliburn finalist at the Van Cliburn Competition last year.
Congratulations Clayton! Keep it up!!
I heard him playing at the Gilmore Festival in Kalamazoo. He is a dazzling artist, a fine young man, and a up-abd-coming superstar. He is charming, charismatic, and still innocent. He loves his mummy, who follows him to every concert.
He will impress you if you leave your preconceptions and prejudgments at home.
At the same time, is a Nina Simone contest for black artists a necessary thing?
No, it’s not.
At all.
Poor Nina Simone.
Well, I am sure this is not the last time you
heared his name; you will hear a lot more!”
Well done Clayton. Handsome dude, too!!
Well, if you have actually watched his performances, you can tell that his playing is still very immature for his age, reminiscent of a reckless teenager. He was not a worthy finalist at Cliburn, especially considering there were quite a few talented pianists who didn’t make it to the final. It’s evident that he only advanced into the final round because he is black.
This is a somber reality the world currently faces right now.
Go read Jed Distler’s Cliburn Blog review on Clayton Stephenson in Gramophone
Do they have to play like Nina Simone to win? This promotes the myth that she was not allowed into the Curtis Institute because of her race. Why wasn’t the competition named for Natalie Hinderas or Andre Watts?