Young pianists, multitaskers all, set for the Hanson Winners’ Recital at Nazareth University
When she was just a kid, Shaila Man, now a senior at Pittsford Mendon High School, started playing the piano. She hasn’t stopped since.
Same thing with Julian Chumacero, a senior at Victor Central School District. He was 4 or so when he sat down at a piano in his grandparent’s house. It was love at first plink.
“I didn’t know how to play back then, obviously,” Julian says. “But after playing it for so many years, my parents finally decided that maybe I could do lessons.”
Opening notes: What is the Hanson Winners’ Recital?
The lessons have continued, and Julian, along with Shaila, will be among the eight area high school seniors who will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at the Hanson Winners’ Recital at Nazareth University.
Now in its 54th year, the event is named after Howard Hanson, the longtime director of the Eastman School of Music, and is sponsored by the Rochester Piano Teachers Guild Inc.
The eight young pianists were among 14 who auditioned on March 3, each pianist playing three pieces.
Love notes: Falling for the piano’s allure
Shaila, who studies under Brian Preston, and Julian, a student of Elier Suarez, have worked hard to get where they are, their commitment reflecting a special love for the piano.
Why the piano? Those of us who have washed out of piano lessons know that it’s not an easy instrument to play. There are so many keys, so many ways to go wrong.
But for Shaila and Julian all those keys are part of the piano’s allure.
“In my opinion, it’s the most versatile instrument,” Shaila says, going on to explain how a pianist plays two clefs at once (bass and treble) rather than just one.
Julian likes the piano’s versatility as well. “You’re playing many notes at the same time having to balance them,” he says.
To-do notes: Multitaskers on and off the piano
Multitaskers on the piano, Shaila and Julian are multitaskers off the piano, too.
During the pandemic, Shaila hosted a podcast on women in science and other subjects, including one fascinating episode on the evolution of Disney princesses. (Search for “We’re All Queens” wherever you get your podcasts.)
She’s also actively involved in rowing as a coxswain for Pittsford crew. Her job is to steer the boat and coordinate the pace of the rowing. “My dad always told me I’d be a good coxswain because the coxswain has to have a great handle on rhythm,” Sheila says. “And with my musical experience, I have a really good gauge keeping the beat steady.”
Leaving notes: A lifelong bond with the piano
In addition to playing the piano, Julian is also a violinist and the concertmaster of the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Soon it’s off to college for Julian and Shaila. He’ll study applied mathematics and, if possible, violin performance.
Shaila plans on studying cognitive science. (Actually, she’s already started as, last summer, she took part in a University of Rochester research project on memory.) Wherever she is, whatever she’s doing, if she’s near a piano, odds are, she’ll sit down and play.
“I think I’ll be doing that for the rest of my life,” Shaila says, “just experimenting with music, trying to teach myself new music. And using it as an emotional outlet.”
Before graduation, and college, and everything else, there’s the Hanson recital. Shaila and Julian will be by: Logan Canfield (McQuaid Jesuit High School), Serena Devgun (Pittsford Sutherland), Leah Hurlbut (Webster Thomas), Sophie Kahn (Pittsford Mendon), Rebecca Lee (The Harley School) and Aariv Mody (Pittsford Sutherland)
From his home in Geneseo, Livingston County, retired senior editor Jim Memmott, writes Remarkable Rochester, who we were, who we are. He can be reached at jmemmott@gannett.com or write Box 274, Geneseo, NY 14454