GHHS junior impresses Russian instructor

Thu, May 7, 2009    to del.icio.us

Yuri Rozum demonstrated how to play the music of Alexander Scriabin with the fire and intensity the composer intended, and Grand Haven High School junior James Schippers listened to every Russian-accented word and note.

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Schippers, 17, was one of six West Michigan student pianists selected for a special master class with Rozum at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven on Tuesday.

Rozum, an internationally acclaimed pianist from Moscow, was conducting the class as part of the West Shore Symphony Orchestra's 2009 Russian Festival and Gala. The festival will conclude Saturday with a Rozum recital at 7 p.m. at the Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts in Muskegon.

After listening to Schippers play Scriabin's "Two Poems, Op. 32" on the baby grand piano in the church's sanctuary, Rozum gave the teen animated hands-on-the-keyboard instruction. He told Schippers that it takes "incredible tension and concentration" to play the Russian composer's fiery music.

"Every note is like small flash," Rozum said. "It's not Chopin," as he proceeded to demonstrate the difference on the piano.

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Rozum said it is good for a young musician to have too much fire and then learn to control it, and it's good to be nervous.

"James has a fantastic approach and he has a lot of emotions, but hidden still," Rozum said. "He should show much more — and he can. Like he started to play and he nearly killed the piano — and that's good."

To see the video, click here: http://www.grandhaventribune.com/liveique/b_vid_front.bsp

Schippers said he learned a lot from Rozum.

"A lot of what Mr. Rozum said about the fire and tension of Scriabin — that's one of the main things I learned," he said.

Schippers lives in Robinson Township and said he has been playing piano for 10 years. He said he plans to major in music at college, which he hasn't picked out yet. For the past year, he has studied with Andrew Le, a professor at Hope College, and he's performed with the Holland Symphony Orchestra.

His parents, Greg and Bonnie Schippers, said they are proud of James, but they were mixed about realizing their son's talents until more recently.

"Never dreamt it," Greg said.

"When he was little, he would go down to the piano, even before he had lessons, and pound out the theme from 'Veggie Tales,'" Bonnie said of her son. "... It wasn't all the right notes, but you could definitely tell what it was."

On the Net:

www.yurirozum.com

www.wsso.org