Program: The Thirty-Eighth Annual Student Recital
Locust Valley Library, Locust Valley, New York

The Association of Piano Teachers of Long Island (APTLI), founded in 1966, is a non-profit organization. The primary aim of the Association is to raise the standards of pianos teaching by providing members with continuing professional growth through discussion, lectures and master classes. APTLI seeks to promote the development of the next generation of young musicians.

STUDENT RECITAL COMMITEE
Chairperson
Naomi Lehman
Assistant to  Chairperson
May WU

Speaker: NAOMI LEHMAN
Topic: "Rhythmic Rests and Significant Silences: the music between the notes"

Naomi Lehman began piano lessons at age 9. Lesson stopped when she left NYC for  the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She was always participating in school music events: JHS chorus, HS plays UM - "Kismet" chorus. As an early childhood teacher, music was a major part of the classroom. Her kindergarten rhythm band was terrific!

In the 1960's she got here own apartment, an upright piano and a teacher - Alida  Vazquez of the Mannes School Music. Alida got Naomi into chamber music in 1971 - Chamber Music Conference at Bennington, VT. Over the years Naomi has also attended VMAC (Johnsonville, MT) and HSU (Arcata, CA) Naomi began teaching in 1995 after  retiring. In 1990 she became the pianist of the Madison Chamber Ensemble. This mixed ensemble gives performances in libraries and historic homes. The MCE has been a regular at Connell Library. Naomi has accompanied instrumentalists and vocalists. Since 1992 she has been studying with Blanche Abram, Adjunct Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at Hofstra.

Naomi has been an APTLI member since 1996. She is also a member the the Friday Woodmere Music Club and the Bohemians. She has a teaching studio in Queens.

Round Table Discussion: Music Education and Pedagogy

Speaker: CHIHARU SAI
Topic: " Words of Wisdom of Master Pianists and Piano Teachers:
Invaluable Advice for Aspiring Young Artists"

Chiharu Sai specializes in teaching children and young students. Her positive and innovative approach nurtures a love of music and develops talent. An active teacher, she has served on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music's summer program and has also taught at various music schools and private institutions in the NYC and Tri-state area. As an adjudicator and clinician. she is invited to judge piano competitions for young artists as well as give lecture-recital and master classes.

Actively involved in music education and pedagogy, Ms. Sai also performs. She arranged 2 Mozart piano concertos for piano and string  quartet, which she performed at Weill Hall with the Amadeus String Quartet. This program was repeated in Tokyo. She has engagements this season with orchestras, solo recitals in Europe, and solo and chamber music concerts in Japan and the United States.

Ms. Sai holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. She is a Mozart specialist.

Speaker: REN ZHANG
Topic: "Dancing on the Keyboard"- an exploration of dance forms

Ren Zheng id dedicated to reviving and performing music in the grand romantic tradition. Famous piano critics have compared Ren's highly personal style to the of pianistic giants of the " Golden Age".

A native of Shanghai, he began his piano studies at the age of four. At twelve he entered the shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 1987 he debuted with the Shanghai Theatrical Orchestra as the recipient of the Gold Medal of the National Young Pianist Competition. He entered Manhattan School of music on full scholarship, where he earned both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. As recipient of the Shura Cherkassky Award from the Artist International he had a successful  NY recital debut at Weill Hall. Reviewer Harris Goldsmith praised his playing " ... for warm, songful expression, orchestral richness and ... tonal adventures."

Ren has performed as guest artist at numerous festivals. He has released a number of live CD recordings and has been featured on David Dubal's radio program, "Reflections from the Keyboard". This season Ren will be performing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on March 14 in its Accolades series.

Program: JEFFREY BIEGEL MASTER CLASS

Jeffrey Biegel has presented a master class for APTLI several times. He is a wonderful musician and a fine teacher, always providing excellent suggestions to improve performance. He has created a successful career as a pianist, composer and arranger.

Vincent Izzo:
• Chopin Etude Op. 25, No 7 in C# minor
• Rachmaninov Prelude OP.23, No. 6 in E flat Major
• Brahms Intermezzo in B flat minor

Loretta Kimm:
• Beethoven Sonata Op. 31, No. 2 " Tempest" (1st or 3rd Movement
• Rachmaninov Prelude OP.23, No. 5 in G minor

Tina Pai :
• Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1 in B flat minor
• Rachmaninov Prelude OP.23, No. 5 in G minor