SANFORD, Maine — Get excited for a Sunday afternoon concert from some of New England's aspiring pianist students as part of the 2024 Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Competition at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The third annual competition is set for Sunday afternoon, March 3, at the Sanford Performing Arts Center. The competition includes juried pianists aged 15-30 who live or study in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont.
Through online auditions, these finalists have qualified for the final LIVE competition, each performing up to 15 minutes of music. The public is invited to enjoy this free concert. A panel of three independent concert pianists will serve as judges for this competition.
During judge deliberations on March 3, Hanna’s 15-year-old nephew Väinö Viljanen from Finland will entertain the crowd in Sanford. Viljanen started to play piano at the age of 7 with his grandfather Pekka Viljanen. After a year of practice, he was accepted into Turku Conservatory.
Väinö has been awarded in the Pianoaura Competition in Turku in 2019 and 2023. He has taken part in the Canadian Youth Piano Festival in 2021 and the Leevi Madetoja Competition in 2022. Väinö finished his basic studies at Turku Conservatory in 2022, and he has participated in many master classes, including classes with Matti Raekallio and Henri Sigfridsson.
Finalists are competing for the following cash prizes: First place is $2,000; Second place is $1,500; and Third place is $1,000. The $1,000 High School Honor Prize will also be awarded to the top high school student, and may be awarded in addition to a first-, second- and third-place prize.
Hanna Powell was a talented pianist, organist, and music teacher born in Finland to a musical family. Her father, being a pianist and organist, held a university position as a music educator. One of her brothers is a violinist and plays in the Turku Symphony orchestra.
Hanna taught at St. Thomas School in Sanford as a part-time music teacher from 2012-2016. She loved teaching children of all ages. She also taught private piano lessons to many students and helped at Redeemer Lutheran Church with the service playing and children’s music ministry.
Hanna was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in May 2006. Despite battling this illness for 11 years, Hanna remained positive and lived her life to the fullest. Hanna died Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017.
Hanna’s husband Andy and her sons Patrick (SHS Class of 2021) and Jonathan (SHS Class of 2023) are honored to continue Hanna’s legacy through supporting young musicians and their love of music.
For concert information, visit https://sanfordpac.org/pianocompetition2024 or call the box office at (207) 206-1126, or visit in person Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-noon.