Two talented local pianists are looking for some last-minute support in the Piano Hero video contest offered by the CBC.
Morgan Jones and Maxim Hiske were entered by their mother, Melanie Hiske. Jones, who is a first-year student at the University of Regina, has been playing piano since she was three years old. For her video, Jones performed Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum, a piano piece from the Children’s Corner written by Claude Debussy for her video. She had 60 votes as of the morning of Jan. 26.
Hiske, a Grade 9 student at the Estevan Comprehensive School who has been playing piano since he was five, played The Storm Op. 109 No. 13 by Johann Friedrich Burgmuller. He has 64 votes thus far.
People can vote for them by visiting the Piano Hero website.
The selections had to be performed on an acoustic piano and not a digital piano.
Voting opened on Jan. 21, and will continue until 2 p.m. CST on Jan. 28. The 10 pianists whose videos get the most votes will advance to the final round. A jury comprised of noted pianists Jan Lisiecki, Angela Cheng and Yannick Nézet-Séguin will view the top 10 finalists’ videos and select the grand prize winner, who will receive a Steinway and Sons upright piano.
The winner is slated to be announced on Feb. 2.
Melanie Hiske entered her children because she thought it would be good exposure and they need a new piano.
“They’re pretty good piano players and so let’s give it a try,” she said.
She is proud of them for their efforts, regardless of how many votes they receive.
“It’s kind of a big deal to get ready and to videotape yourself,” said Hiske. “And it was a little frustrating sometimes, because we had to have different takes to do it, but there are some really talented piano players across the country when you look at some of the entries.”
The siblings have a friendly competition to see who will receive the most votes.
“I’m really, really glad they decided to enter,” she said.
