The El Paso Chopin Music Festival is presented each fall by the El Paso Chopin Music Festival Society as a gift to the community. The annual series of performances, which serve to promote the appreciation of Chopin's music are always free of charge, and are known for STANDING ROOM ONLY audiences.
We recommend you come early (at least a half hour before the scheduled start), in order to ensure you will have a seat. We are a non-profit organization. Patrons
are encouraged to show their appreciation of the events by making a donation to the festival, or by purchasing a CD of the performer's work at the theater. We welcome people of all ages, however we strongly recommend that very small children and infants not be brought into the theater.
We recommend you come early (at least a half hour before the scheduled start), in order to ensure you will have a seat. We are a non-profit organization. Patrons
are encouraged to show their appreciation of the events by making a donation to the festival, or by purchasing a CD of the performer's work at the theater. We welcome people of all ages, however we strongly recommend that very small children and infants not be brought into the theater.
Eric Lu - Saturday, September 12 - 7:00 PM
Eric Lu, born in 1997, is one of the finest pianists of the younger generation. In February 2015, he was awarded the first prize and concerto prize at the 9th National Chopin Competition in Miami, FL. In 2013, at the age of 15, he was admitted into the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he currently studies. Furthermore, Eric has received top prizes at a number of other major international competitions.
In August of 2014, he received the 1st prize at the 9th Moscow International Chopin Competition for Young Pianists. In 2013, Eric triumphed at the Minnesota International e-Piano Junior Competition, receiving the 1st Prize, and the Schubert Prize. The competition concluded with a final round performance with the Minnesota Orchestra. In 2010 at the age of 12, Eric won the 1st Prize of the prestigious 12th Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Germany. Other awards include the audience at the 2011 Junior Academy Eppan in Italy.
Eric’s upcoming concert schedule includes recital and concerto performances across the US, including a recital at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Eric will make appearances in Spain, Canada, Armenia, and Poland. Past performances include at the Asamsaal castle, Stadthalle Ettlingen, Raiffeisen Forum Lanserhaus in Germany, and Italy. In the summer of 2014, he performed in several locations in China. Other venues include performances at Boston's Jordan Hall, Philadelphia’s Field Concert Hall, Minneapolis’s Ted Mann Concert Hall, Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, among others. Eric has collaborated with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Chopin Foundation Orchestra, The State Youth Orchestra of Armenia, Wellesley Symphony, the Longwood Symphony, and the Boston Civic Symphony.
Eric Lu started studying the piano at the age of 6 with Mrs. Dorothy Shi. While at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, he studied piano with Alexander Korsantia, and Mr. A. Ramon Rivera. Currently, Eric studies at Curtis with Jonathan Biss and Robert McDonald, and is a pupil of the renowned pianist Dang Thai Son.
In August of 2014, he received the 1st prize at the 9th Moscow International Chopin Competition for Young Pianists. In 2013, Eric triumphed at the Minnesota International e-Piano Junior Competition, receiving the 1st Prize, and the Schubert Prize. The competition concluded with a final round performance with the Minnesota Orchestra. In 2010 at the age of 12, Eric won the 1st Prize of the prestigious 12th Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Germany. Other awards include the audience at the 2011 Junior Academy Eppan in Italy.
Eric’s upcoming concert schedule includes recital and concerto performances across the US, including a recital at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Eric will make appearances in Spain, Canada, Armenia, and Poland. Past performances include at the Asamsaal castle, Stadthalle Ettlingen, Raiffeisen Forum Lanserhaus in Germany, and Italy. In the summer of 2014, he performed in several locations in China. Other venues include performances at Boston's Jordan Hall, Philadelphia’s Field Concert Hall, Minneapolis’s Ted Mann Concert Hall, Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, among others. Eric has collaborated with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Chopin Foundation Orchestra, The State Youth Orchestra of Armenia, Wellesley Symphony, the Longwood Symphony, and the Boston Civic Symphony.
Eric Lu started studying the piano at the age of 6 with Mrs. Dorothy Shi. While at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, he studied piano with Alexander Korsantia, and Mr. A. Ramon Rivera. Currently, Eric studies at Curtis with Jonathan Biss and Robert McDonald, and is a pupil of the renowned pianist Dang Thai Son.
Josh Wright - Saturday, September 26 - 7:00 PM
Billboard #1 artist Dr. Josh Wright has delighted audiences across the United States and in Europe. The Washington Post described him as a pianist possessing “rarer gifts – touch, intelligence and the ability to surprise.” (link to article) He performed his debut recitals at Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall) and the Kennedy Center (Terrace Theater) in 2014. His self-titled album “Josh Wright” topped the Billboard Classical Traditional chart just three weeks after its release in April 2011. He also performed at Dolby Theater in Los Angeles as part of America's Got Talent Season 9. Josh earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan. He earned a Master of Music degree and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Utah. His principal teachers are Dr. Logan Skelton and Dr. Susan Duehlmeier. Josh is married to Dr. Lindsey Wright, who earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Utah.
Josh was a prizewinner at the 2015 National Chopin Competition, and also won the Mazurka prize. He won third prize and the audience prize at the 2014 Washington International Piano Competition, first prize at the 2013 Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition, first prize at the 2013 Rosamond P. Haeberle Piano Award competition, the gold medal at the 2010 Seattle International Piano Competition, and first prize at the 2010 American Protége International Competition of Romantic Music. He was the second prize winner of the 2011 Music Teachers National Association National Competition. He was also a top prizewinner in the New York Piano Competition, the Louisiana International Piano Competition, and the Julia Crane International Piano Competition.
Josh has appeared numerous times with symphony orchestras including: the Utah Symphony, the Temple Square Orchestra, the Salt Lake Symphony, the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra, the SummerArts Orchestra, and the University of Utah Student Chamber Orchestra. He has released five albums, including My Favorite Things (2013), Josh Wright (2011), Gaspard (2010), The Complete Chopin Etudes (2003), and Josh Wright Debut (2000). Josh has participated in lessons and master classes and lessons with numerous concert pianists, including Sergei Babayan, Boris Slutsky, Leon Fleisher, Menahem Pressler, Garrick Ohlsson, John Perry, Nelita True, Paul Schenly, Ian Hobson and Awadagin Pratt.
In addition to performing, Josh is passionate about teaching. He has appeared as a guest lecturer and masterclass presenter at several festivals and colleges, including the Amalfi Coast Music Festival (Amalfi, Italy), University of Utah International Keyboard Institute (Salt Lake City, UT), Utah Valley University Piano Festival (Provo, UT), BYU-Idaho (Rexburg, ID), Snow College (Ephraim, UT), and Shoreline Community College (Seattle, WA). He has broadened his studio through online lessons where he teaches lessons to students on five different continents. He has created a free online piano instructional series to assist piano students of all ages and abilities with various aspects of technique and musicality. This can be found on his YouTube Channel – www.youtube.com/joshwrightpiano.
Josh was a prizewinner at the 2015 National Chopin Competition, and also won the Mazurka prize. He won third prize and the audience prize at the 2014 Washington International Piano Competition, first prize at the 2013 Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition, first prize at the 2013 Rosamond P. Haeberle Piano Award competition, the gold medal at the 2010 Seattle International Piano Competition, and first prize at the 2010 American Protége International Competition of Romantic Music. He was the second prize winner of the 2011 Music Teachers National Association National Competition. He was also a top prizewinner in the New York Piano Competition, the Louisiana International Piano Competition, and the Julia Crane International Piano Competition.
Josh has appeared numerous times with symphony orchestras including: the Utah Symphony, the Temple Square Orchestra, the Salt Lake Symphony, the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra, the SummerArts Orchestra, and the University of Utah Student Chamber Orchestra. He has released five albums, including My Favorite Things (2013), Josh Wright (2011), Gaspard (2010), The Complete Chopin Etudes (2003), and Josh Wright Debut (2000). Josh has participated in lessons and master classes and lessons with numerous concert pianists, including Sergei Babayan, Boris Slutsky, Leon Fleisher, Menahem Pressler, Garrick Ohlsson, John Perry, Nelita True, Paul Schenly, Ian Hobson and Awadagin Pratt.
In addition to performing, Josh is passionate about teaching. He has appeared as a guest lecturer and masterclass presenter at several festivals and colleges, including the Amalfi Coast Music Festival (Amalfi, Italy), University of Utah International Keyboard Institute (Salt Lake City, UT), Utah Valley University Piano Festival (Provo, UT), BYU-Idaho (Rexburg, ID), Snow College (Ephraim, UT), and Shoreline Community College (Seattle, WA). He has broadened his studio through online lessons where he teaches lessons to students on five different continents. He has created a free online piano instructional series to assist piano students of all ages and abilities with various aspects of technique and musicality. This can be found on his YouTube Channel – www.youtube.com/joshwrightpiano.
Lucy Scarbrough - Saturday, October 10 - 7:00 PM
Lucy Scarbrough's early piano studies were with her mother. When 16, Lucy studied with Sylvio Scionti of New York and later with Russian pianist Maurice Lichtman. At the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, she received the Conservatory’s top prize, the John R. Hattstadt Award for outstanding musicianship. At the Conservatory, she studied with Beatrice Eppinelle, Hans Levy Heniot and the internationally recognized musician Leo Sowersby. In competition, she won the honor of playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. After receiving her degrees at the Conservatory, she taught at the Chicago Musical College and continued her studies with the internationally known pianist and founder of the Chicago Musical College, Rudolph Ganz.
Scarbrough is known for her standing-room-only concerts, and has been called “...a soloist of rare power and sensitivity.” (El Paso Times) Other comments: Leo Sowerby, noted American composer: “Lucy Scarbrough is a marvelous musician. She has what it takes and has that star quality which makes her memorable.” Conductor of the Evanston Symphony, Hans Levy Heniot: “Lucy Scarbrough is a highly respected musician. When she is going to perform, we know the Recital Hall will be filled.”
Music critic John Prestwood of the El Paso Times said: “Lucy Scarbrough gave a stellar performance exhibiting exceptional technique and deep sensitivity, enjoying several standing ovations throughout the concert.” She has received numerous awards including the Burlington Foundation Teaching Award, the National Teaching Excellence Award of U. T. Austin and the coveted Minnie Stevens Piper higher education award of Texas. In 1996, she was inducted into the El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame. In 1998, Lucy Scarbrough received the Hidalgo award for service to the Hispanic community of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
As Project Director of the Expansion Arts Program, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Scarbrough founded and directed the College Arts Festival. She founded and is director of the El Paso Civic Orchestra. In 1995, she founded and is the artistic director of The El Paso Chopin Music Festival. Lucy Scarbrough and the
El Paso Chopin Music Festival were featured in the February 1998 issue of Clavier magazine.
She served on the The Chopin Foundation of the United States' Selection Jury for the Seventh and Eighth National Chopin Competitions in 2005 and 2010, respectively. Dr. Scarbrough was the commencement speaker for the Spring, 2006 Commencement of El Paso Community College. Her most recent honor was recognition from the President of the United States for her humanistic contributions to the arts in El Paso, Texas.
Scarbrough is known for her standing-room-only concerts, and has been called “...a soloist of rare power and sensitivity.” (El Paso Times) Other comments: Leo Sowerby, noted American composer: “Lucy Scarbrough is a marvelous musician. She has what it takes and has that star quality which makes her memorable.” Conductor of the Evanston Symphony, Hans Levy Heniot: “Lucy Scarbrough is a highly respected musician. When she is going to perform, we know the Recital Hall will be filled.”
Music critic John Prestwood of the El Paso Times said: “Lucy Scarbrough gave a stellar performance exhibiting exceptional technique and deep sensitivity, enjoying several standing ovations throughout the concert.” She has received numerous awards including the Burlington Foundation Teaching Award, the National Teaching Excellence Award of U. T. Austin and the coveted Minnie Stevens Piper higher education award of Texas. In 1996, she was inducted into the El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame. In 1998, Lucy Scarbrough received the Hidalgo award for service to the Hispanic community of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
As Project Director of the Expansion Arts Program, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Scarbrough founded and directed the College Arts Festival. She founded and is director of the El Paso Civic Orchestra. In 1995, she founded and is the artistic director of The El Paso Chopin Music Festival. Lucy Scarbrough and the
El Paso Chopin Music Festival were featured in the February 1998 issue of Clavier magazine.
She served on the The Chopin Foundation of the United States' Selection Jury for the Seventh and Eighth National Chopin Competitions in 2005 and 2010, respectively. Dr. Scarbrough was the commencement speaker for the Spring, 2006 Commencement of El Paso Community College. Her most recent honor was recognition from the President of the United States for her humanistic contributions to the arts in El Paso, Texas.
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