2020 Conference - Commissioned Composer Competition

JOHN FRANEK

The winners of the competition have been chosen by the composer and their performance will be virtually showcased during the NJMTA Conference.

COMPETITION RESULTS

FLOW (Elementary)

Prize                                  Student                              Teacher      

1st                                       Annie Wei                                     Stella Xu
2nd                                      Joviale Wu                                    Esma Pasic-Filipovic
3rd                                       Arielle Chen                                Ingrid Clarfield
HM                                      Catherine You                          Chiu-Ling Lin
HM                                      David Yu                                        Stella Xu
HM                                      Kyle Zhu                                         Julia Lam

_______________________________________________________________________

ERRATIC INVENTION (Intermediate)

Prize                                  Student                             Teacher

1st                                       Sarah Chen                                    Ingrid Clarfield
2nd                                     Kristie Chao                                  Stella Xu
3rd                                      Annabelle Chow                       Stella Xu
HM                                    Richard Hao                                  Chiu-Ling Lin
HM                                    Claire Hua                                     Chloris Li

________________________________________________________________________

DYNAMIC TENSION (Advanced)

Prize                                  Student                             Teacher

1st                                       Catherine Chu                             Stella Xu 
2nd                                     Emily Gan                                      Stella Xu
3rd                                      Patrick Sun                                     Stella Xu
HM                                     Alyssa Xu                                        Ingrid Clarfield

John Franek (b.1996) is a composer and pianist whose compositions “demonstrate a craftsmanship of a composer far beyond his years.”  (Dr. J.A. Kawarsky,  Professor of Theory & Composition)

John has had premieres of his own works performed in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, with notable premieres in locations such as in New York City, Philadelphia, London, Quito, Paris, Havana, Krasnoyarsk, Olomouç, Rome and Tashkent (among others).  Among these performances he has had his worked performed by ensembles such as The Siberian State Symphony Orchestra, The Moravian Philharmonic, and the Lontano ensemble as it currently looking forward to premieres later this year with the Borromeo String Quartet, Trio Immersio, Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and the Janaček Symphony Orchestra.  

As a sought after performer, John has personally performed on three continents and has given concerts throughout the United States.  An avid researcher and performer of Mozart, he recently toured his “Franek & Mozart” lecture-concert and is currently working on a Mozart book for popular audiences.  His most recent album Purely Mozart demonstrates his particular love of Mozart:  “John Franek's affinity for Mozart is evinced in his brilliant, subtly-shaded playing which brings forth the composer's work in all of its multivalent sparkle and darkness.”  (Scott Hawkinson, Double V Digital Recordings)  

John has benefited from the private composition and piano instruction of Phyllis Lehrer, Jay Kawarsky, Silvina Milstein and Edward Nesbit.

John currently runs his own publishing company, LiveWire Music Editions, as well as his own record label and music platform, Aphoria Music, and is also published by various other publishing houses.

For more information about the event, please see the CCC page here.