Wednesday June 18, 2008
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This is the day that classes began with the All Day sessions. Most people have arrived by now and the convention is really underway. This year even includes some evening classes to cram more education time into an already loaded schedule. |
Exhibit Hall
The manufacturers who are exhibiting spent the day setting up the exhbits and tuning all the pianos in the exhibit hall. All the pianos have to be tuned at the same time!! At 5:30 he exibit hall opened to the attendees. |
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Vice President Alan Gilreath and South Central Regional Vice President Norman Cantrell cut the ribbon to open the exhibits |
I had incorrectly identified this as the Harley-Davidson piano.This work is done by Piano Solutions XXI, Guennadi Korolev. This is a custom made piano that is not titled Harley Davidson piano, but is solely a tribute to Harley Davidson. This piano complete with headers in the plate and a chamelon finish which changes color depending on the angle you look. Pictures cannot do it justice. |
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The Golden Hammer Award
| The actual award fashioned by Keith Bowman, RPT is on display in the exhibit hall. I have put a picture of it here just so you all can see what a beautifully crafted piece it is. Keith injured his fingers on a router while making this award and is not at the convention. We all send our prayers for a speedy recovery. |  |
Auxiliary Scholarship Recital
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The PTG Auxiliary every year sponsors a recital played by winners of the MTNA competitions for the state where the convention is or a neighboring state. This year the players came from Phoenix, AZ. Grace Ma, 15 flew in at the last minute and had to fly back immediately after playing to take a final exam. Carolynn Cong, 13 was the junior winner and played an amazing concert. This concert is my favorite among the ones at the convention because helping young musicians get started is what we are about. Every year the winners are more amazing and younger. The technical skils they showed were astounding as well as their overall command of the piano. Mason & Hamlin is co-sponsor of this concert and the concert was played on a Mason & Hamlin CC Concert Grand that was tuned by Liz Ward. I am always amazed how much sound these tiny young pianists can get out of the piano. Pictured are Kirk Burgett and Bruce Clark from Mason & Hamlin with Carolynn Cong. |