WSMTA is pleased to be a 2024 grant recipient of the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Contribution Funds. This $3,500 grant supports the operation of WSMTA’s Outstanding Artist Piano Competition (OAPC), in particular for its special student awards of the best performances of works by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), Women, and Underrepresented Composers.
“The Judges enjoy listening to Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and Chopin but what a joy to hear new and different repertoire!” said Cherie Felts, OAPC Chair. “We express heartfelt gratitude to the Tulalip Tribes for bestowing this grant as we grow the new and exciting aspect of this competition.”
“This is so amazing and exciting!” exclaimed Colleen Hunter, President of WSMTA. “This is an exciting contribution to the arts and to our shared purpose of giving voice to the underrepresented.”
In 2024, the inaugural year of the special awards, 45 students participated in OAPC, with 17 opted to include repertoire by BIPOC/Women/Underrepresented Composers. Daniel Luan, the junior division award winner, performed “Dreaming” by 19th Century American woman composer Amy Beach. Maria Horja, the senior division award winner, performed “Duo Ye” by contemporary Chinese-American woman composer Chen Yi.
OAPC was first established in 2005 to provide more performance opportunities for piano students in Washington State. There are two divisions: senior (age 15-18), and junior (age 11-14), with a total of about 50 students from all over the state participating each year. The competition is held at a concert hall at the Central Washington University over the Veteran’s Day weekend. The repertoire rules have been designed to allow more artistic freedom: students are asked to perform at least two contrasting pieces and allowed up to a total of 25 minutes (senior division; 20 minutes for junior division) to present substantial repertoire which normally would have been considered too lengthy for a competition.
The Tulalip Tribes are federally recognized successors in interest to the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish and other allied tribes and bands signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliott.
The 22,000 acre Tulalip Indian Reservation is located north of Everett and the Snohomish River, and west of Marysville, Washington. The Tribes maintain an aggressive environmental preservation program, both on and off of the Reservation.
The Tulalip Tribes Charitable Contribution Funds program has assisted over 245 charitable organizations with over 50 million dollars since 1993 working in partnership with the surrounding communities including Marysville, Everett and Snohomish County to make a positive difference.