Sophomore Pianist Dazzles Across the Globe

Parker is very proud to share the recent string of tremendous achievements sophomore Zarin Mehta has accumulated during the past several weeks.

From Monday, March 13 to Saturday, March 18, Mehta was one of 18 finalists selected from around the world to compete at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. The competition’s mission is “to encourage and support excellence in the performance of classical piano music by showcasing the talents of young pianists on the threshold of their careers in competitions adjudicated by internationally acclaimed judges, and to offer additional performance opportunities.” Mehta lived up to this mission in grand fashion. He performed an hour of advanced piano repertoire across the genres—baroque, classical sonata, virtuosic etudes and contemporary—during two rounds. He was awarded the Sascha Gorodnitzki Memorial Prize for a musician “with great promise” and also participated in the competition’s Ambassador Program, a community outreach program in which musicians perform and discuss their works at schools and assisted living facilities.

Mehta returned to Chicago on Monday, March 20 to record the Schumann Concerto in A minor with the Oistrakh Symphony led by maestro Mina Zikri at Gannon Concert Hall, an opportunity awarded to winners of the DePaul Concerto Competition.

Not finished yet, on Friday, March 24, Mehta was traveling again, this time to Reno, Nevada to attend the Music Teachers National Association conference, where he was the national first place winner for the Senior Piano Division after winning earlier rounds for Illinois state and East Central region. Mehta was also the national second place winner in the Senior Composition category for his original piano score “Caspian Fantasy.”

Mehta performs his competition pieces and more at his solo performance in the “Rising Star Recital Program” Music@Bethel Concert Series in Elmhurst on April 30. Tickets for the performance are available here.

Parker congratulates Mehta for all his hard work and dedication!
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Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.