By Lyn Bronson
Marek Zebrowski today introduced a new recital venue for some additional talented Paderewski Youth Competition participants. These four young students, Sydney Haughian, Rory McClish, Lindsay Reed and Brian Bekker were given an opportunity to perform for an audience in the “Paso Robles Arts Studio,” a non-profit organization. Zebrowski reminded us that Paderewski had had a dream of establishing a school of music in Paso Robles, and that someday perhaps we will achieve this dream. Sherman Clay provided a lovely 6’1” Steinway A grand piano for use in two recitals in this location, hopefully to become an annual event.
The first young performer was Sydney Haughian, 10, a pupil of Rudolf Rudginas, who played La Chevaleresque by Burgmüller and followed it with a piece I had never heard before, Valse Dramatico by Melody Bober.
Rory McClish, 14, a resident of Morro Bay, and a former Junior Division winner in the Paderewski Youth Competition who had participated in the Polish/American exchange program last year, played three compositions, Chopin’s Waltz Op. 69 No. 1 in A-flat Major, the Praeludium from Bach’s English Suite in A Minor, and ended his short program with Shostakovich’s Fantastic Dance No. 3.
After Brian Bekker, 18, a resident of Pacific Grove and a pupil of Renee Bronson, played for us Chopin’s Nocturne in E Minor and Rachmaninoff’s Elegy in E-flat Minor, Lindsay Reed, 16, wound up the program with a performance of Paderewski’s Chant d’Amour and Khachaturian’s Toccata.
