Piano teacher Edith Knox’s competition legacy
Rachel Kim at the preliminary round of competition Jan. 29. Photo by Larry Zinkiewicz
David Choi at the preliminary round of competition Jan. 29. Photos by Larry Zinkiewics
by Stacey A. Morse
When she was a young, aspiring musician living in Boyle Height, Edith Knox received a $1,000 gift from her history teacher, Revira McCarter.
“No strings attached – just use it to maintain yourself, but use it wisely,” the teacher said.
Knox applied the gift to tuition at the University of Southern California, which led to scholarships in music at Julliard Music Academy in New York, and eventually to a career teaching piano in her home in Palos Verdes.
That early gift inspired Knox to establish the Knox Performance Competition.
This year’s, 49th annual competition takes place February 27 at the Redondo Union High School Auditorium. (2022 would be the 50th competition, were it not for the pandemic canceling last year’s competition.)
Unlike most other classical music competitions, which require a single movement of a concerto or piece, the Knox Competition requires applicants to perform a full concerto, which typically lasts 30 to 40 minutes. All music must be memorized. Each soloist is accompanied by a pianist (who is not judged). The winner of the competition will receive $1,000, and an invitation to perform as soloist with the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra at its fall 2022 concert, and in recital on June 3, in Classical Crossroads’ First Fridays at First concert series, at First Lutheran Church, in Torrance.
This year’s five finalists are ages 13 to 19. They were selected based on their performances in the preliminary competition round held in January at Harbor College. Five judges will rank the contestants. PEN