El Paso, Texas–The El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future (EPSMF) announces the winners for the 2019 OM/NI (Original Music/New Ideas) Competition. Six finalists were selected from national submissions to have their original piano scores performed by El Paso professionals in the OM/NI Competition Showcase on Saturday, August 11, 2019 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in El Paso’s Upper Valley. This competition called to exceptionally talented students between the ages of 17 and 25 to submit original scores for piano and compete for cash awards.
The top award was $750. Second place award: $500. Third place award: $250. The audience participated with votes for their favorite composition supporting the $200 Audience Choice Award. All six finalists in this OM/NI competition will have their scores published in the EPSMF OM/NI Compilation.
The OM/NI Competition is one of four programs specifically targeted to young musicians. EPSMF programs also include the Competition for Young Musicians (musicians ages 9 to 19 – a formal competition for cash awards), Instruments for Young Lives (instruments awarded to students with talent and unmet financial need) and the Ambassador Leadership Program (outreach and leadership skills through music). Applications for the 2019/2020 EPSMF programs will be available online at www.epsmf.org on September 15th.
2019 OM/NI WINNERS:
1st PLACE: Foo Jeng Wong (Brighton, Massachusetts): The Devil on His Chest
2nd PLACE: Forest Field (Canyon, Texas): Valse Nostalgia
3rd PLACE: Santiago Ramones (Edmond, Oklahoma): False Memories
Audience Choice: Trevor Lanford (Berea, Ohio): Ripples on the Pond
Recognition for Achievement: Lyana Cremnitz (Abilene, Texas): The Journey of Life
Recognition for Achievement: Garrett Thompson (El Paso, TX): Moving On
ABOUT THE COMPETITION FINALISTS:
1st PLACE: Foo Jeng Wong
Twenty-two-year-old Foo Jeng Wong is from Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia and graduated from Berklee College of Music. He currently teaches in the Boston, MA area. According to Mr. Wong, “The cyclic emotion that one feels when experiencing an episode, whether it be fear, confusion, and/or panic, is the essence of what my piece - ‘The Devil on His Chest’ - captures.”
2nd PLACE: Forest Field
Twenty-four-year-old Forest Field studies at West Texas A&M University. In reference to ‘Valse Nostalgique’, he says, “It is in the style of the impressionists such as Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. I model all of my works after these amazing composers.”
3rd PLACE: Santiago Ramones
Twenty-three-year-old Santiago Ramones studied at the University of Oklahoma. His piece was inspired by the music from Blade Runner and Bioshock: Infinite.
AUDIENCE CHOICE: Trevor Lanford
Twenty-four-year-old Trevor Lanford studied at Baldwin Wallace University. Regarding ‘Ripples on the Pond’, “This piece is meant to evoke a melancholy send of sitting by a pond and watching the small ripples flow. The performer is to take as any artistic liberties as their desire regarding tempo and dynamics if it adds to the overall emotion they feel in this piece.”
RECOGNITION FOR ACHIEVEMENT: Lyana Cremnitz
Eighteen-year-old Lyana Cremnitz is from Malaysia and is studying at Hardin-Simmons University. She says, “In this piece -‘The Journey of Life’- the many sections and unpredictable yet unpredictable parts paints a picture that reflects the title.”
RECOGNITION FOR ACHIEVEMENT: Garrett Thompson
Twenty-Four-year-old Garrett Thompson is a native El Pasoan who graduated from Coronado High School and studied at Belmont University. His original score is titled ‘Moving On’.
Applications for the 2019-2020 EPSMF Programs will be available in September 2019. Watch for announcements.
The El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future (EPSMF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality classical music programs. The organization has a growing commitment to outreach to the youth of the Borderland.
EPSMF events are made possible with the support of the El Paso Museum and Cultural Affairs Department as well as the El Paso Community Foundation and donations from the community at large.
Lynn Provenzano, Board President
915-449-0619
lprovenzano@epsmf.org
www.epsmf.org