2008 Junior Competitors

Weston Mizumoto USA

“Something that Mr. Cliburn told Mr. Alexander Kobrin when he won the gold medal stuck with me ever since I heard it.  In a nutshell, he said that those of us who were blessed with the opportunity to learn how to play piano at this level have an obligation to share this music with others.  I agree with him.   Music is such a wonderful gift from God, and it is not only for us pianists to enjoy.  It is also for everyone who wants to listen and enjoy its beauty.  Therefore, I believe that I have an obligation to perform whenever I can.  It’s not a burden for me, because I love to perform!

I play piano whenever and wherever I can.  I’ve had my own solo concerts, as well as performances with others.  I’ve played in orphanages in Mexico, and most recently I performed in China as a young pianist ambassador from the US.   I’ve played on grand pianos, small upright pianos, electronic keyboards, and even junky little pianos with keys missing on it!  I have performed for six thousand 4th and 5th graders, and I have performed for an audience of 1.  It doesn’t matter the size of my audience, I put my all into it every time I perform.  Since I am also able to improvise, and I look forward to entertaining young children’s during my church’s Children’s Church program every week.  It’s a good thing I love playing the piano, and I never get tired of it.

Knowing my obligation drives me to want to practice hard and learn new pieces, and not only Gershwin, but all the unique genre that encompasses the world of music.  My passion is to create a memorable experience for my audience, and to instill a love for the music through the way I present each piece. 

At 13 years of age, I have fun palming a basketball during a game, but I can truly say that I have more adrenaline running through my veins hitting octave runs during a performance of the Chopin Etude op. 25, no. 10.  I am now equipped with extra large hands, a love for music, and an ability to perform in public.  These are talents that I intend to continue to nurture and develop for the rest of my life.  My goal is eventually be educated at a combined program such as Julliard/Columbia, NEC/Harvard, or Curtis/Penn.  I want to find an innovative way to help promote the popularity of classical music to the masses using multimedia, computers, and technology!  I’m determined to succeed in this endeavor, and I believe that a well-rounded education (such as in these combined programs) can help me accomplish this.  I’m looking forward to it!”

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