Introduction
Music For You held the first Art Contest in 2020. Our goal is to encourage children to explore the language of music and engage in creative expression through art. From the works of over 60 talented contestants, we saw how music and art are connected, and how effectively music and art can spark imagination and creativity. This year, we will be expanding the contest to include both works of art and poetry. By listening to the selections of music chosen and performed by Music For You musicians, you can create a work of art and/or a short poem that you think matches the music. It’s all about the creative process and we hope you enjoy this: how the music allows one to move and feel what you hear and create your own interpretation.
Guidelines
- Choose one of the music selections from below.
- While listening, create a piece of visual art or write a short poem that is EITHER totally abstract (inspired by the rhythmic movements, feelings or emotions) OR a depiction of a subject related to the piece title, background or theme.
- The relation of the work to the music selection may be subtle but must be reasonably identifiable to the panel of judges without additional explanation.
- The same contestant may submit works to both the visual art and poetry divisions.
- The relation of the work to the music selection may be subtle but must be reasonably identifiable to the panel of judges without additional explanation.
- Artwork (painting, drawing, collage, etc.) and poetry must be created entirely by the student. Photography is not an art medium to be entered for this contest.
Submission and Deadline
- To enter the contest, the students must take a clear photo of the artwork, upload it onto the internet, and submit it through this form with parental permission (if the student is under 18).
- The submission period for the 2023 art contest will begin on March 13th and conclude May 15th.
- Judges will consist of professional artists, poets, and musicians, as well as Music For You members.
Judging Criteria
The rubric is as follows and each portion is on a point scale of 1-5. The overall score is calculated by adding up the individual portions for a maximum of 20 points.
- Relation or emotional relevance to the selected music
- Technical quality of the work
- Originality and individuality
- Emotional and intellectual impact
Awards
- There will be two age categories: grades K-6 and 7-12
- For each age category, there will be two awards given out per piece:
- Best of (Piece Title) which will be an award given out to the best artwork for a given piece decided by a panel of judges
- Performer's Favorite which will be awarded to an artwork personally chosen by the performer of the piece
- Best of (Piece Title) which will be an award given out to the best artwork for a given piece decided by a panel of judges
- Award Ceremony
- Will be online. Check back for more details!
About the 2023 judges
Judges of the Visual Arts Division:
Peggy Gyulai
Peggy Gyulai is a professional abstract artist deeply inspired by jazz and classical music--as in, she loves painting musical performances as she listens to them! Her colorful, emotionally textured works embody the intuitive characters of musical pieces, such that viewing her art parallels the feeling of listening to the music that inspired it; the feeling from that ever-progressing music is eloquently captured in permanent brushstrokes on the canvas. Ms. Gyulai also enjoys drawing or painting scenes from real life. Visit Ms. Gyulai's website for more information about her: http://peggygyulai.com/
Dr. Wen-Huei Jou
Dr. Jou was trained as an engineer, receiving his B.S from Taiwan University, and a Ph.D. in Aeronautical Sciences from Princeton University. Subsequently, he had worked as a researcher in NASA Ames Research Center, and taught at University of Singapore and Taiwan University. In 1977, he re-immigrated to Seattle and joined Flow Research Company where he rose to Vice President. Subsequently, he joined the Boeing Commercial Airplane as the Manager of Aerodynamic Research. After retiring from the Boeing Company in year 2000, he devoted his time to the art of painting. He participated in several juried exhibitions in Seattle area. He had volunteered to lead an art activity for recovering mental patients for many years. He is currently teaching Painting and Art History at the local Taiwan Cultural Council for a group of senior citizens.
Dr. Elizabeth Tomlin
Elizabeth Tomlin is currently an Instructor of Piano at Diablo Valley College, as well as a private piano teacher in the Bay Area. Before moving to California, she held positions at Duke University and the University of North Carolina. She earned a Doctor of Music from Indiana University, Master of Music from University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Music from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to teaching and performing she loves hiking, cooking, and spending time with family. Visit Dr. Tomlin's website for more information about her: bayareapianist.com/
Peggy Gyulai is a professional abstract artist deeply inspired by jazz and classical music--as in, she loves painting musical performances as she listens to them! Her colorful, emotionally textured works embody the intuitive characters of musical pieces, such that viewing her art parallels the feeling of listening to the music that inspired it; the feeling from that ever-progressing music is eloquently captured in permanent brushstrokes on the canvas. Ms. Gyulai also enjoys drawing or painting scenes from real life. Visit Ms. Gyulai's website for more information about her: http://peggygyulai.com/
Dr. Wen-Huei Jou
Dr. Jou was trained as an engineer, receiving his B.S from Taiwan University, and a Ph.D. in Aeronautical Sciences from Princeton University. Subsequently, he had worked as a researcher in NASA Ames Research Center, and taught at University of Singapore and Taiwan University. In 1977, he re-immigrated to Seattle and joined Flow Research Company where he rose to Vice President. Subsequently, he joined the Boeing Commercial Airplane as the Manager of Aerodynamic Research. After retiring from the Boeing Company in year 2000, he devoted his time to the art of painting. He participated in several juried exhibitions in Seattle area. He had volunteered to lead an art activity for recovering mental patients for many years. He is currently teaching Painting and Art History at the local Taiwan Cultural Council for a group of senior citizens.
Dr. Elizabeth Tomlin
Elizabeth Tomlin is currently an Instructor of Piano at Diablo Valley College, as well as a private piano teacher in the Bay Area. Before moving to California, she held positions at Duke University and the University of North Carolina. She earned a Doctor of Music from Indiana University, Master of Music from University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Music from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to teaching and performing she loves hiking, cooking, and spending time with family. Visit Dr. Tomlin's website for more information about her: bayareapianist.com/
Judges of the Poetry Division:
Clara Hsu
Clara Hsu is a poet, playwright, actor, and piano teacher in the Bay Area. In 1982, she founded the Clarion Music Center, which became a non-profit performing arts center in 2019. It aims to celebrate music, theater, art, and poetry from many cultures in accessible ways. Additionally, with its origin tied with San Francisco's Chinatown, Clarion aims to empower the Asian American community and its culture. Visit Ms. Hsu's websites for more information about her and her organization: www.theclarionsf.org/ and https://clarahsu.com/.
Eric W Jepson
Mr. Jepson is an English teacher at El Cerrito High School; an author of fiction, poetry, and criticism; and an award-winning editor of Mormon literature. For seven years he edited the poetry journal Quatrain.Fish, is in his fourth year as editor of Irreantum, and has been the faculty advisor for ECHS's student-run comics and literature journals. He is an avid consumer of many forms of media, and he greatly values student perspectives. His own work is published under the names Eric W Jepson and Theric Jepson.
Dr. Yu-Ting Chen
Yu-Ting Chen is a piano teacher in the Bay Area and the founder of Music For You - Young Musicians. As a pianist, she has performed with orchestras in the US and Taiwan, toured with other musicians in Japan, Spain, and Austria, and held solo performances across the state of Washington. Her musical passions include Brahms, about whom she wrote her dissertation for her piano performance doctorate; chamber music, which she has performed in many concerts in the US; and teaching, for which she has obtained certificates in both the US and Taiwan, marking the experience that she now applies as a piano teacher. Ms. Chen also enjoys reading poetry, where emotions are phrased through the rhythms, orderings, and intertwined meanings of words, analogous to how musical expression manifests in articulations, dynamics, and melodic and harmonic progressions. Visit Ms. Chen's website for more information about her: https://yutingchenpianostudio.weebly.com/
Clara Hsu is a poet, playwright, actor, and piano teacher in the Bay Area. In 1982, she founded the Clarion Music Center, which became a non-profit performing arts center in 2019. It aims to celebrate music, theater, art, and poetry from many cultures in accessible ways. Additionally, with its origin tied with San Francisco's Chinatown, Clarion aims to empower the Asian American community and its culture. Visit Ms. Hsu's websites for more information about her and her organization: www.theclarionsf.org/ and https://clarahsu.com/.
Eric W Jepson
Mr. Jepson is an English teacher at El Cerrito High School; an author of fiction, poetry, and criticism; and an award-winning editor of Mormon literature. For seven years he edited the poetry journal Quatrain.Fish, is in his fourth year as editor of Irreantum, and has been the faculty advisor for ECHS's student-run comics and literature journals. He is an avid consumer of many forms of media, and he greatly values student perspectives. His own work is published under the names Eric W Jepson and Theric Jepson.
Dr. Yu-Ting Chen
Yu-Ting Chen is a piano teacher in the Bay Area and the founder of Music For You - Young Musicians. As a pianist, she has performed with orchestras in the US and Taiwan, toured with other musicians in Japan, Spain, and Austria, and held solo performances across the state of Washington. Her musical passions include Brahms, about whom she wrote her dissertation for her piano performance doctorate; chamber music, which she has performed in many concerts in the US; and teaching, for which she has obtained certificates in both the US and Taiwan, marking the experience that she now applies as a piano teacher. Ms. Chen also enjoys reading poetry, where emotions are phrased through the rhythms, orderings, and intertwined meanings of words, analogous to how musical expression manifests in articulations, dynamics, and melodic and harmonic progressions. Visit Ms. Chen's website for more information about her: https://yutingchenpianostudio.weebly.com/
Music Selections
1. "Ballade in F Major, Op.38" by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Richard Bai Description: Chopin’s Ballade in F major Op. 38 contains some of the sweetest and some of the most violent music that Chopin ever composed. It is a work of extreme contrasts between moods, both a daydream and a nightmare. Listening Prompts:
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2. "Un Sospiro" by Franz Liszt
Performed by Kailua Cheng Description: "Un Sospiro" translates to "A Sigh" in Italian, which describes the flowing yet intense nature of the piece. At times, the melody combined with soft, fluttering arpeggios gives the music a transcendental touch. Listening Prompts:
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3. "Dumky Trio, Mvt. 1" by Antonin Dvořák
Performed by Kai-Li Cheng, Yu-Ting Chen, and Evan Chin Description: "Dumka" is a Slavic, originally Ukrainian, word meaning "thought". It is characterized by two contrasting sections, one thoughtful and melancholic and the other (the furiant) an exuberant dance. Listening Prompts:
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