David Wong, Pianist Wins First Place in Piano Competition

ARCATA, CA - For his masterful performance, pianist David Wong earned first place prize in the Northern California Piano Competition, held recently at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.

David Wong, 17, of Lafayette, received first prize in the 15-18 age division. Wong studies piano with John Perry in Los Angeles.

Prizes and scholarships totaling more than $1,400 were awarded at the competition. To be eligible to compete, the pianists, in three divisions ranging from 6 to 18 years old, had to present solo repertoire representing three different periods: Baroque or Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century. The competitive solos, performed in Humboldt State's Fulkerson Recital Hall, were judged on "musicality, performance presence, memory, creativity and technical facility," said competition coordinator Deborah Clasquin, an associate professor of music at Humbodlt.

"The awards recital" she said, "offered the public a chance to hear some of the brightest, up-and-coming young pianists in California."