University of Alabama at Birmingham student Aleksandra Kasman won the inaugural High Point University 2015 Piano Competition on Saturday, June 6.
The competition is for pianists ages 15-25 who reside in the United States. Artists initially submitted DVDs of their work. Kasman was selected as one of only three finalists, along with Tianpeng Yu of Los Angeles and Priscila Navarro of Florida. The three finalists were awarded $10,000 in prizes.
Kasman, of Vestavia Hills, is a rising junior majoring in music in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music and is in the UAB Honors College’s University Honors Program.
Kasman’s selection as a finalist in this nationwide competition was a great honor and achievement in and of itself, says her father and teacher, UAB Professor of Piano Yakov Kasman, DMA. The competition at High Point University was held June 4-6.
In May, Kasman was named a winner in the National Federation of Music Clubs Student/Collegiate Auditions. Kasman won in the piano classification. After winning this competition at the state level in February, she submitted her recording to the national-level auditions. The win came with a $3,000 cash award from NFMC; she also will be featured in the National NFMC magazine.
On Feb. 7, Kasman won the LaGrange Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition and performed as a soloist with the LaGrange Symphony. On March 13, she won the Alabama Music Teachers Association State College Concerto Auditions. On April 4, she won the lower division and overall at AMTA State College Solo Performance Auditions.
Kasman performed a solo recital in Las Vegas on May 1.
This summer, Kasman will attend the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York City. She was automatically accepted into this highly competitive event as a Piano Arts North American Competition scholarship winner.