Courtroom Concerts

Courtroom Concert Program Details

March 10, 2016, Noon
Courtroom 317, Landmark Center

Shuen Wu, piano

Song Without Words, Duetto, Op. 38, No.6—Felix Mendelssohn
Sonata No. 3 in F Major, Op. 46—Dmitry Kabalevsky
    Allegro con moto
    Andante cantabile
    Allegro giocoso

Daniel Eras, piano

Fantasie F minor Op. 49—Frederic Chopin
Suite de Danzas Criollas Op. 15—Alberto Ginastera
    Adagietto pianissimo
    Allegretto rustico
    Allegretto cantabile
    Calmo e poetico
    Scherzando
    Coda: Presto ed energico

Shuen Wu started learning piano when he was about to turn six. His father, who had little musical training, assumed the role of his first piano teacher. At the age of eleven, he began studying with his current teacher, Professor Alexander Braginsky of the University of Minnesota, Founder and President of the International Piano e-Competition. Immediately, he was introduced to challenging repertoire and performed at the 2014 MusikFest, at Shattuck-St. Mary, Minnesota. In 2015, He won first place in Junior Piano at The Schubert Club’s Bruce P. Carlson Student Scholarship Competition, and received the Best Performance of a Virtuoso Etude Award in the Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition. He also plays violin and is a member of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies.

Born in San José, Costa Rica Daniel Eras started piano in the children’s program at the School of Music of the University of Costa Rica in 2003. In 2005, he was accepted into the Institute of Superior Arts of Costa Rica to study with Professor Valentina Tumanova.

At the Intensive Training Pianistic Plan of the Institute of Superior Arts and the National University of Costa Rica, he took lessons with Alexandr Sklioutovski, Tamara Sklioutovkaia, Ludmila Meltzer, and Irina Kaufman Brookes.

In 2008, he participated in the Piano Fest Austria in Vienna. He performed as a soloist with the Wiener Residenz Orchester. In 2009 Daniel gave a recital in Brussels, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Costa Rica and Belgium. In the same year, he earned an honorable mention in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition. From 2009 to 2012 Daniel performed four different times at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.

In 2013 he participated in the e-Piano Junior Competition, advancing into the last 9 and winning the Rising Stars Prize for the best performance of Russian music. He later left Costa Rica to finish his High School education and to continue his piano studies at Shattuck St. Mary’s School under Alexander Braginsky of the University of Minnesota.

In 2014 he participated in The Schubert Club Scholarship Competition obtaining an Honorable Mention. One year later, he won the First Prize. In 2015 he won the first prize of MTNA National Senior Piano Competition. Previously, he won the state and regional divisions of the MTNA Competition as well which gave him the opportunity to compete in the finals celebrated in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition, he obtained the Chopin Prize for the best performance of a Frederic Chopin work.

Currently, Daniel is working for several performances and competitions, as well as college applications.