Press

Nordiska Pianos Shine at the Young Artists Piano Competition

As the performers at the 29th Annual Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra Piano Concerto Competition took to the stage, they approached a piano with which many of them were not familiar. The magnificent nine-foot, polished ebony Nordiska 275 concert grand piano that graced the stage was not the usual suspect for this type of competition. When they sat down to perform, however, they realized the full potential of the Nordiska as it met the challenges that were presented by the variety of technically demanding pieces

The participants in the competition assembled from around the Midwest and included college music students upon the recommendation of their instructors. The runner-up in the competition was a duo from Michigan State University that played an incredible version of Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos on the Nordiska 275 and a seven-foot, Nordiska 215.

"Our piece required a sharp response and a wide variety of colors from the pianos, and we were so pleased with how well the Nordiska's worked for us," remarked Bibianne Yu, one of the members of the Michigan State duo, "We think that two-piano programs tend to draw a good audience response and we believe that the two pianos performing together served as a good showcase for the Nordiska pianos, highlighting their versatility and capability in handling a broad spectrum of sound."

Steve Pearson, RPT and owner of Pearson's Piano Shop in Crete, Illinois, served as the technician for the competition and it was his responsibility to have the pianos in top condition for the performers. Steve's experience in working with Nordiska pianos has its foundation in servicing the instruments at the annual NAMM Show for the past three years. This relationship with the Nordiska products has given him an exceptional knowledge of the capabilities of Nordiska pianos and actually inspired him to open up his retail shop selling the product line.

"All of the performers were simply amazing," said Pearson, "each had their own style and sound that they were in search of and the Nordiska pianos delivered on all accounts. It was a surprise when I was told the duo wanted to use the Nordiska 215 that was backstage as the second instrument for their performance. There was another big name piano on stage beside the Nordiska 275, but they insisted on the seven-foot Nordiska and it was the right choice."

Competition Founder and Chairman, Ken Bade and his staff did a wonderful job in organizing this event, which marked its 29th year. The finalists that competed on March 12 at Kresge Auditorium on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University, were selected based on audio recordings that they and their instructors had submitted for the competition. Bade and his panel of judges, which included Dr. Michael Injae Kim of Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov of the Chicago College of Performing Arts and Dr. W. Ronald YaDeau from Millikin University School of Music, devoted a great deal of time sorting through the entries, listening carefully for the technical aspects contained in each piece.

"Each year I come away from this event with a great respect and admiration for the talent that is possessed by the contestants that enter our competition," remarked Bade, "These are gifted musicians who have a passion for music and the performing arts. They are the reason we provide this competition and they are the ones who make this competition a success."

The judges were also very impressed with the performances that they had witnessed and as a result they awarded first-place to two of the performers. Hayk Arsenyan performed a flawless version of Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 and Jei-Yern Ryn fascinated the judges and crowd alike with her intense version of Chopin's Concerto No. 2. The Nordiska Model 275 will return to Kresge Auditorium on April 16 as Hayk Arsenyan will be performing Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 with the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra for a dynamic conclusion to the Concerto Competition.

"We were honored to have had Nordiska as a part of this event," reflected Earl Matzkin, President of Geneva International Corporation, the exclusive U.S. distributor of Nordiska pianos, "The caliber of the musicians who participated in this competition and the performance that was displayed by the Nordiska instruments speaks volumes regarding the level to which the Nordiska brand has risen. We are excited about the future for Nordiska as it continues to gain recognition for the performance abilities that it possesses throughout the product line."

San Diego State University School of Music Calls Upon Nordiska

In August, the San Diego State University School of Music added ten Nordiska grand pianos and a Nordiska upright piano to their lineup of instruments as they began preparations for the 2004-2005 school year. San Diego State University's music program, which makes its home in a 78,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility, as well as a number of out buildings on the campus, ranks among the finest programs in the nation. The Nordiska pianos were brought in to replace a number of school's older inventory, which was comprised of the most recognized brand names in the piano industry.

"We are delighted that Nordiska pianos were selected by a fine institution such as the San Diego State University School of Music," remarked Earl Matzkin, president of Geneva International, "It is also a tremendous asset to have a dealer, such as The Piano Exchange, that believes in the quality and the potential of Nordiska line as it relates to a venue of this caliber

The Piano Exchange, which began carrying the Nordiska line in the early part of 2004, worked closely with the school's music department, illustrating the benefits and performance qualities of the the Nordiska line. As a result of the effort put forth by the Piano Exchange and the desire of the San Diego State University Music Department to offer instruments of high quality to their students and staff the Nordiska's were chosen and will soon be played upon by a new class of students, eager to pursue a career in the music industry.

"The Nordiska brand is gaining recognition as a world-class instrument. It is being selected as the instrument of choice in schools and prestigious performance venues, as well as, being selected by professional musicians who are looking for an instrument that delivers high quality performance and sound on a nightly basis," added Matzkin, who has, along with Geneva International employees, helped to establish the Nordiska piano line as a frontrunner in innovation and quality in the piano industry.