Media Release

                                                                                                                                               

Contact:

Martin Perches

79 Ashford Ave.

Mill Valley, CA 94941

Phone:  415-860-5900

Email:   mperches@pianosisters.com

Website: www.pianosisters.com 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

San Francisco Bay Area Sisters, Mayumi and Rieko Tsuchida,

Win California’s Top Honors for Solo Classical Piano

 

SANTA CLARA, CA – July 3-7, 2009 -- Mayumi and Rieko Tsuchida of Mill Valley, CA won 1st place in the Music Teachers Association of California, MTAC, “State Solo Piano Competition”. There are 4 divisions based on age. Rieko won Division II: ages 13 - 15 while her sister Mayumi won Division III: ages 16 - 18.

Recounting their win Mayumi and Rieko said, “as special as winning was, to have won it in each of our age divisions was really exciting, every time we looked at each other we would start giggling, we did this until we fell asleep”. Rieko flew in at 2 am the morning of the competition from a summer music institute she was attending in Kansas. Mayumi arrived at 10:45 am from a summer music festival she was attending in Vermont. Neither slept nor ate before the competition. “So when we crashed after all our giddiness, we did so from pure exhaustion”, Rieko said.

No doubt it was their subtlety, nuance of emotional expression that distinguished them. Comments by the three esteemed judges seemed to bear this out; of Mayumi’s performance, “Gorgeous sound, lovely voicing!”, “very fine performance of a most difficult and mature piece”, “sensitive and musical”, “Brava” and of Rieko’s, “Lovely work!”, “I love your turn of the phrase”, “Very good overall concept of the piece”, “Excellent performance!” and again, “Brava!”.

The Music Teachers' Association of California, MTAC, is a professional organization of approximately 4,500 teacher members. Throughout its 100 year history, MTAC has dedicated its efforts towards the pursuit of excellence in music education. There are more than sixty branches throughout the state - from Humboldt County to San Diego.

The annual MTAC convention rotates its venue between northern and southern California. This year it was held from July 3 – 7, 2009 at the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel. As a part of the convention each year, finalists from all over the state compete in several music categories.

About Mayumi Tsuchida

She started playing piano at the age of 3 with her mother and became a student of classical piano at age 4. Her first public performance was at age 5, she played 7 pieces including an encore. In 1999 her family relocated to San Francisco to enable her to advance her piano studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music; where she is a student of John McCarthy, Director of the Preparatory Division.

Some notable achievements:

2009 - 1st place, Music Teachers Association of California, MTAC, “State Solo Piano Competition"

1st place, "San Francisco Young Pianists Competition"

2008 - 1st place, "Ross McKee Foundation Piano Competition"

Performed for the National Public Radio's "FROM THE TOP" Gala Concert in Boston

Was interviewed and played Carnegie Hall in New York City. It was videotaped for National Public Radio's "FROM THE TOP" television show and has aired twice nationally on PBS television stations.

2007 - Was featured in 7x7sf magazine's annual Hot 20 under 40!

2006 - Won the "University of the Pacific Piano Competition" sponsored by Henry & Carol Zeiter

Was interviewed and played on the national radio show “From The Top” in Boston

Performed at the University of Judaism, Los Angeles

Was interviewed and played on the nationally syndicated radio program “West Coast Live”

2005 - 1st place "10th Annual San Francisco Chopin Competition for Young Pianists"

Performed at the World Trade Club of San Francisco

Performed in The Luna Trio at the Chamber Music America Conference at Herbst Hall

Played a pre-ballet concert for the Smuin Ballet at the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts

2004 - Won the California State Ensemble Competition (the MTAC VOCE Competition) in her trio "The Luna Trio"

2003 - 1st place TYS Television Network Piano Competition (Japan)

Won the 1st place Sanyo Piano Competition (Japan).

Mayumi, 18 years old just graduated from Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, CA. In the fall she will be attending Bard College in New York where she will be studying Music and Pre-Med. For more information please visit her website at www.mayumitsuchida.com. or her and her sisters joint site www.pianosisters.com

About Rieko Tsuchida

Rieko Tsuchida of Mill Valley became a student of classical piano at the age of 3; her first public performance was that same year. She currently studies piano and music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she is a student of John McCarthy, Director of the Preparatory Division.

Rieko has achieved numerous "firsts" already in her young life, notable among them are:

 

2009 - 1st place California State Solo Piano Competition, Music Teachers’ Association of California, MTAC, Division II: ages 13 - 15

 

1st prize in the Ross McKee Piano Competition. Amazingly she was also the youngest finalist.

 

1st prize in the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition.  The winners’ recital was held at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

 

Won the El Camino Youth Symphony Competition and will perform with their Symphony Orchestra in the 2009/2010 season.

 

2008 - Represented the Preparatory of The San Francisco Conservatory in its' Gala honoring Gordon Getty. The stage of luminaries included opera superstars Kiri Te Kanawa and Frederica von Stade.

Performed on National Public Radio's "From the Top", broadcast nationwide

Won "The Piano Prize" in the Second Annual Mondavi Center’s Young Artists Competition.

Chosen by philanthropist Bernard Osher to play at his 80th birthday extravaganza. Only four musicians were invited, including surprise guest Placido Domingo.

2007 - Made the cover of Chamber Music Magazine, August 2007 issue

Performed on National Public Radio's "From the Top", broadcast nationwide

2006 - Her piano trio won the "MTAC VOCE" (California State Ensemble Competition)

Won both of the premier California state piano competitions in 2006: The MTNA/CAPMT "Honors Auditions" state piano competition; and the MTAC State Piano Solo Competition. She is the first solo pianist to have won both in the same year.

2005 - Won the 10th Annual “San Francisco Chopin Competition for Young Pianists" in.

2003 - While only 8 years old, she was a prizewinner in the International Chopin Piano Competition of Asia.

At age 6, she was the youngest pianist ever invited to perform in the history of the Junior Bach Festival in Berkeley, Calif.

Also at age 6, she won the MTAC Piano Competition in San Francisco. Since age 6 is deemed “Elementary,” she was moved up to the next category “Intermediate,” where she won.

Rieko, 14 years old lives in Mill Valley, CA. She will be attending Mount Tamalpais High School as a sophomore when school resumes this fall. For more information please visit her website at www.riekotsuchida.com or her and her sister’s joint website www.pianosisters.com

Media Release and Pictures w/ notes zipped