Piano Competition Held in Colorado

hen Wells Music Center in Denver presented its 13th Annual Wells Music/Yamaha Piano Competition last April, the event far exceeded organizers' expectations. "In the final two days before the competition, we received more than 100 new entrants," exclaims competition founder and salesperson Bob Baker. "Our first year, 25 children performed. This year, we had 320 kids—double last year's number—and about 100 teachers."

To handle the enthusiastic response, Competition Coordinator Lana Andreeva expanded the competition from two to six days, and held qualifying recitals from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in four rooms at Wells Music Center, each equipped with a Yamaha C6 or C7 conservatory grand piano. "Needless to say," Baker concedes, "we were all very tired at week's end, but it was definitely worth it. All these young pianists were phenomenal!" The competition concluded with an Honors Recital for first, second, and third-place winners in each Division. The Recital and live recording session on a Yamaha C7 attracted a standing-room only crowd.

First place winners in each competing division were: Christina Lan, Division I (grades K-3); Jeffery Lee, Division II (grades 4-6); Evelyn Eisele and Jenny Yim, Division III (grades 7-9); and Marianna Chang, Division IV (grades 10-12).

Top three winners in each Division with Bob Baker and Lana Andreeva (left) and sound engineer Ted Reece (right)

This past July, Lee, Eisele, and Chang traveled to Breckenridge, CO to perform concertos on a Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano, with lodging and fees covered by Wells Music and Yamaha. "The kids rehearsed with the National Repertory Orchestra and the Breckenridge Music Institute Orchestra," says Baker. "It was a blast!"

"Most of the first place winners own Yamaha pianos," adds Baker, noting Wells sold four Yamaha grand pianos, two Disklavier® grand pianos, and two upright pianos following the competition. The Disklaviers were purchased by families who already owned a piano, says Baker, who notes, "The kids play along with the Disklavier on their other piano. It's like having a teacher at home everyday."

With a family owned tradition of service since 1919, Wells Music Center, is among the top selling U.S. Yamaha dealerships.

Expressing Emotions Through Music

he Colorado Boys Ranch (CBR), located in southeast Colorado, is often the last resort for boys with severe emotional and behavioral problems. The CBR is a national residential psychiatric treatment and educational facility for boys, ages 12–18, and the goal is to help them become productive members of society.

During a week last May, Yamaha artist Kevin Asbjörnson became artist-in-residence at the CBR. He presented daily musical workshops for the boys. "I actually recreated a small music studio at the Ranch," says Asbjörnson. "In the corner of the dining room, I put in a nice carpet, some furniture, and a Yamaha C3 conservatory grand piano."

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