If playing the piano were an Olympic event, the kids in the Vladimir Nielsen Piano Festival would be among the top contenders. The Nielsen Festival and Foundation brings promising young pianists from all over the world to Long Island each summer. These students live together for one month, practicing on one of the grand pianos provided by Steinway and Sons, official sponsor of the Festival. Each week in August, the community is invited to a recital given by the students, culminating with a gala concert and clambake on the final week. Through the Nielsen Piano Festival, the Long Island community is exposed to the joys and wonders of pre-college-aged pianists.
At the heart of the Festival is the artistic legacy and teaching philosophy of the great twentieth-century pianist Vladimir Nielsen, whose life was deeply connected to the musical culture of Russia, especially to the city of St. Petersburg. The Festival provides an opportunity for aspiring and highly talented piano students to pursue intense music studies in a friendly, nurturing, family environment.
For both the domestic and international students, the Nielsen Festival is a once-in-a-lifetime cross-cultural opportunity. Since its inception two short years ago, children have come from China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Georgia, Canada, Persia, and all over the United States to take part. Ranging in age from eleven to eighteen years old (with an occasional college-aged young adult in the mix), the students are encouraged and supported in their pursuits of musical excellence. Indeed, musical excellence is a top priority for participants in the Nielsen Festival.
However, it is not the only priority. Rob and Ali Maimone, founders of the Nielsen Festival, believe in a second bottom line, in which the humanity of each unique child is cherished, as well as their performing prowess. “Performance is a high priority, but not higher than each child’s heart and experience of childhood.” Like the Olympics, where children are singled out at an early age for their superior promise in the area of sports, many children who are identified for their musical talents early on are cut off from the carefree experience of a typical childhood.
While many children get up at 7:00 in the morning, down a bowl of Cap’n Crunch and race out the door to catch the school bus, competitive musicians are not quite so carefree. Often as early as fourth grade, they maintain grueling practice schedules along with regular schoolwork and studies. Depending on their academic environment, students in the Nielsen Festival put in several hours of practice each day – more if they are preparing for a competition. Matthew Maimone, Rob and Ali’s son, is homeschooled. “During a competition season, Matthew might practice up to eight hours a day, six or even seven days a week,” says Rob. For kids who are in school, their days begin at 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. After school, they do homework, then two to four hours of practice just to maintain their skills.
According to Rob Maimone, “most of them enjoy it… but sometimes the kids are pressured by their families.” In fact, Maimone points out that to be a serious and competitive musician, the whole family is involved. “The level of time commitment and financial investment is great… you’re doing this together (with the whole family).” Part of the second bottom line for the administrators of the Nielsen Festival and Foundation is to foster the unique personalities of each student, helping them to be seen as more than just child prodigies. They want the children to also feel like… well, children. While competitive musicians often do not experience a typical childhood, the Nielsen Festival environment is geared toward making sure the children have fun in addition to all their hard work.
The Nielsen Festival and Foundation not only serves students once they are here in the United States, but also helps both the international students and their parents get the necessary travel and student visas to come. Partnering with educational institutions, the Nielsen Festival and Foundation works on the whole scope of bringing students and their families to the United States. They also help internationals with transitional and cross-cultural needs.
Another interesting dynamic the Nielsen Festival deals with is the challenge of fostering a healthy spirit of competition. While they want the kids in the Festival to be motivated to do their best, Rob Maimone says that they also want to help students “rejoice in the success of others.”
“The more they are taught and exposed to the values we hold, we see that the embodiment of love provides comfort. The children are freer to relax in that environment,” says Maimone. “They still work very hard, but their identity is not based solely in performance.”
At a recent Nielsen Festival recital, held one freezing night in February at the National Arts Club at Gramercy Park, the unique personalities of each student shone through their exceptional performances. They all seemed fairly mild-mannered and unassuming until they hit the keys. Then we saw the excellent technique, confidence, and showmanship each has developed. More than anything, each student appeared to enjoy him/herself and genuinely want to be there. “We work hard to create a nurturing and loving environment,” says Rob. “We do not want these kids to feel exploited in any way.”
For competitions, the students in the Nielsen Festival are mentored and taught by top Julliard teachers, including Festival Co-Founder and Artistic Director Victoria Mushkatkol. An internationally recognized teacher, Ms. Mushkatkol was on the faculties at the Interlochen Arts Academy and the Oberlin Conservatory. She has performed at, and taught in, numerous summer festivals, including the Puigcerda International Festival in Spain, the Festival Soesterberg in The Netherlands, the Taiwan Music Festival in Taipei, the Hamptons’ Pianofest in New York, the Piano Master Classes in Prague, Czech Republic; the Julliard-in-Korea Summer Festival Casual Classics, the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina, the International Conservatory Week in St.Petersburg, Russia; and more. She is currently on the faculty of The Pre-College Division of The Julliard School.
Rob Maimone hopes that the students in the Nielsen Festival will develop, above all, integrity, loyalty, honesty, dedication, and selflessness. Through mentoring not only students, but their families as well, and through fostering a culture of generosity within their small summer community, the Maimones and Ms. Mushkatkol hope that their students will feel cared for, informed, and served.
The Vladimir Nelson Piano Festival will include recitals on August 1, 8, and 15, with a Concert Gala on August 22 (including a clambake following the performance). All performances are at 64 Laurel Trail in Sag Harbor, NY. If you are interested in supporting the work of the Nielsen Festival and Foundation, or for more information, visit www.nielsenfest.com.
