The musicale on October 2, 2020 proved to be entertaining and enlightening. Eighteen
members, from the continental US to Japan, participated. New member Judy Darst
played Chopin’s Harp Etude and Schumann’s Romance in F#; new member Michael
Brounoff played the second movement of Schubert’s Sonata in A Major, D. 664; and
Utako Tanigawa played Mendelssohn’s Rondo Capriccioso Op. 14. All performances
were polished and excellent. As a special treat, Ruth Purcell sang and played her
mountain dulcimer that she made! She performed Apple Picker’s Reel by Larry Hanks
(older brother of Tom).
The new members then discussed their varied and interesting backgrounds.
J. MICHAEL BROUNOFF
I am a retired attorney and judge living in Plano, Texas. I took piano lessons from age 6
through high school. In law school I directed the music for the satirical review, Assault
and Flattery. While a practicing attorney I directed the music for local productions of
Broadway musicals. I resumed formal piano study at age 53 with Dr. Tamas Ungar of
Texas Christian University and Dr. Fred Karpoff of Syracuse University. I am a three-
time semi-finalist at the Cliburn amateur piano competition and, through attending Piano
Texas, a five-time soloist with the Fort Worth Symphony.
Judy Darst
I was born in Minnesota (1936) and wanted to be a Veterinarian. Women were
discouraged at that time, Plus I was lousy at Math so opted for Music. I started lessons at
age 8 and didn’t like it at first. When we moved to a small town outside of Minneapolis I
had a wonderful teacher, Louise Guhl. I was at Carleton College Northfield Minn. for 2
years then transferred to the U. Of Colorado Boulder. I married right out of College and
started teaching at home.. though my background was in Performance. I taught for 42
years, got my National Certification, and did adjudication for National Guild of Piano
Teachers. I had 2 boys, Seth the older now a Professor at Rockefeller in Manhattan (
Molecular Bio Physicist) became a fine Pianist. I started teaching him at age 8..but he
needed to go somewhere else. I started a Piano Group in Loveland Colorado, was a
performing member of Ladies Musical Club in Seattle and currently live in Bend
Oregon. When we moved to Oregon in 2005 I became interested in the Amateur Piano
Competitions and have participated ..Wash. DC, WIPAC, Chicago, Boston, Colorado
Springs and San Diego. I showed horses oven fences (Hunter Division) and taught
Country Line Dancing but now am more interested in Piano than ever, more appropriate
for my age. With the current situation I find bringing up things I have done in the past,
seeing them in a new light ..is rewarding. I look forward to participating in this Group!
10/2 Musicale YouTube Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxrkjeVCTd4&t=99s
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