Pianists from as far away as Hong Kong and as close to home as Wood County will be among the competitors
in the inaugural David D. Dubois Piano Competition and Festival that will be held on campus Feb. 4
through 6.
The competition is being underwritten by an endowment from the David D. Dubois Trust. To get the money
that supports the competition, and other keyboard activities, the Bowling Green State University had to
compete itself to get the money. Its proposal, prepared by coordinator of keyboard studies Dr. Laura
Melton, was chosen from the 20 schools seeking the award.
The endowment was awarded in 2008, but with the vagaries of the economy, the university waited until now
to launch the competition and roll out the other aspects of the program.
The piano competition will bring 19 high school pianists to campus. Each had to submit a recording of one
of the three pieces to be performed at the competition.
Melton said all the CDs demonstrated musicianship at a very high level. "There’s just some
phenomenally talented pianists" included in the field.
The prize money – $3,000 in cash for first, $2,000 second and $1,000 third – helped draw that talent,
Melton said.
There will also be BGSU scholarship money available as well as scholarship to the piano camp held each
summer on campus.
In addition to competing, the participants will take part in a master class with renowned pianist Robert
Levin on Feb. 4 and get to hear him lecture on his specialty "Embellishment, Improvisation and
Cadenzas in Mozart" later that day, and then perform in a Festival Series concert Feb. 5 at 8 p.m.
(See profile of Levin and schedule on p. 6)
Melton, who studied with Levin, said she’s been wanting to bring the noted performer, theoretician and
composer to campus for a long time, and the Dubois festival proved to be an ideal opportunity.
"He’s a fabulous performer and scholar and teacher. He’s engaging in all three ways," Melton
said.
Levin said his goal in the master class, during which he will critique the performances of individual
musicians, is to enhance both the musician and the audience’s "appreciation of the
possibilities" of the music and inspire them to explore those facets. Levin said he wants the
musicians in attendance "to leave with itchy fingers."

Among the 19 pianists performing will be Amy Fan, sophomore at Bowling Green High School, and Michael
Lenahan, a junior in the online charter school Ohio Virtual Academy,
Both are students of Dr. Robert Satterlee, of the BGSU faculty.
Both have competed in their share of events.
Lenahan, the son of Timothy and Cindy Lenahan, won the Toledo Symphony Young Artists Competition and
performed last spring with the orchestra.
"Competitions are always a good experience," Lenahan, 16, said. They help him gauge how he
stands among peers.
"It’s a really good opportunity to meet other performers."
That social aspect is important to Fan, the daughter of Kerry Fan and Stella Huang, as well.
Though she admits to being nervous, Fan, 15, also looks forward to playing for the judges and getting
their reaction and comments on her playing.
The pianists will play for a panel of BGSU faculty on Feb. 5 from noon to 5:30 p.m. Those selected to
compete in the finals will perform Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. The judges will be joined by Alvin Chow,
who chairs the piano department at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Both rounds will be held in
Kobacker Hall on campus.
Brooke Evans, 18, of Findlay, and a student of Melton’s is also in the field.
The other pianists competing include three students from the Interlochen Arts Academy High School in
Michigan: Ricardo Acosta Murguia, 17, Mexico; Michelle Lui, 18, Hong Kong; and Miguel Morrissey, 16,
Port Charlotte, Fla.
Other competitors are: Vivian Anderson, 15, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Alex Berko, 15, Solon; Meredith Bixel, 18,
Bluffton; Naomi Causby, 16, Columbia, S.C.; Danni Feng, 17, LaSalle, Ontario, Canada; Kangling Gu, 15,
Troy, Mich.; Iris Jang, 16, Westerville; Arianna Korting, 16, Gates Mills; Cathy Li, 16, Sewickley, Pa.;
Heather Shen, 15, Birmingham, Mich.; Scott Sherman, 17, West Bloomfield, Mich.; Michael Tsang, 18,
Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Brook Zhang, 16, Gahanna.