Enjoy Free Events at Aloha International Piano Festival

KAILUA, Hawaii - May 30, 2013 - PRLog -- The Aloha International Piano Festival (AIPF) warmly invites the public to enjoy five free events at the 2013 Festival, which opens on Saturday, June 15 at Honolulu's Hawaii Convention Center and features an evening concert series. Music lovers of all ages have opportunities to experience the Festival, including a thrilling competition for adult pianists, and fascinating masterclasses that offer Hawaii’s music students and teachers a rare opportunity to learn from the masters. In keeping with its mission to enrich the lives of the people of Hawaii through music and education opportunities, the non-profit Festival encourages the entire community to experience the Festival in action. To learn more, visit alohapianofestival.com and follow AIPF on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AlohaPianoFestival).

Aloha International Piano Festival 2013 free events include:

Aloha International Piano Competition: Solo Division
Saturday, June 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free Admission! Drop in throughout the day.
Everyone is invited to watch young pianists in action as they compete for Festival honors. Each year, the Aloha International Piano Competition offers aspiring pianists the opportunity to share their talents at a prestigious event that fosters a spirit of healthy competition. Student range in age five to 20.

Aloha International Piano Competition: Young Artist Division
Saturday, June 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free Admission!
Experience the thrills of a live music competition! Expect a high level of performance when young artists ranging in age from 21 to 25 compete for Festival honors. Competitors hail from Florida, California, and Massachusetts, as well as local competitors from Waipahu and Honolulu. Judges include guest artists of the Aloha International Piano Festival.

Masterclass with Haewon Song
Tuesday, June 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free Admission!
Masterclasses give students, teachers and music lovers the opportunity to enrich their studies through interaction with legendary guest artists whose insight exemplifies the highest levels of achievement. Haewon Song, professor at the Oberlin Conservatory and member of the acclaimed Oberlin Trio, gives a fascinating masterclass featuring performances by students in the Aloha International Piano Academy. Come watch a master teacher in action!

Aloha International Piano Competition: Adult Amateur Division
Friday, June 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free Admission
A pianist is never too old to learn! Come and experience one of Hawaii’s most unique music events as adult amateur pianists compete for Festival honors. Expect a very high level of artistic performance. Competitors include a fluorochemical researcher, piano technician/tuner, and University of Hawaii at Manoa graduate student. Participants range in age from 30 to 65 and judges include concert pianists such as Jon Nakamatsu.

Masterclass with Thomas Sauer
Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. Free Admission
Masterclasses offer a unique window into the creative process for musicians and non-musicians alike. Thomas Sauer, concert pianist and faculty member at the renowned Mannes College of Music and Vassar College, presents a unique learning opportunity: a masterclass featuring talented young students with one-on-one coaching by Dr. Sauer. These once-in-a-lifetime performance opportunities are critical experiences for young artists to learn directly from the unique perspectives of revered pianists.

About the Aloha International Piano Festival
Founded in 2006 by pianist Lisa Nakamichi, the Aloha International Piano Festival (AIPF) is a non-profit organization committed to educating Hawaii’s children and teachers. AIPF addresses three main needs: the need for music teacher training, the need for low-cost music concerts and music education opportunities, and the need for high-caliber classes and lessons for piano students. AIPF strives to elevate the awareness of classical music in Hawaii while offering people of all ages the opportunity to experience music in a welcoming and educational setting. As a result of volunteer efforts and work to minimize administrative costs, AIPF has consistently offered programs at low and affordable rates for more than seven years. To learn more, visit alohapianofestival.com and follow AIPF on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AlohaPianoFestival).

AIPF 2013 runs from June 15 to 22 at the Hawaii Convention Center. The public is invited to join AIPF Faculty including Bruce Brubaker, Haewon Song, Jon Nakamatsu, Thomas Sauer, John Bayless and Lisa Nakamichi for a week of concerts, competitions, workshop sand masterclasses that culminates in the Tango Extravaganza concert on Saturday, June 22.

The Aloha International Piano Festival gratefully acknowledges the Atherton Family Foundation, the Kosasa Family Foundation, and the Music Teachers National Association Foundation for their generous support of education and enrichment programs.