Ariel Mizumoto
Age: 14
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Biography
Ariel Mizumoto was born with a natural fondness and inclination for music, and started learning piano at the age of 9. In May of 2005, Ariel had the privilege of traveling to Fort Worth, Texas, to witness the 12th Annual Van Cliburn competition and was able to meet and speak with Mr. Van Cliburn himself. After witnessing top pianists perform pieces from her own repertoire at world class caliber, Ariel’s passion and appreciation for classical music accelerated.
Within a year and a half since visiting Fort Worth, Texas, she has matured in her performance style and interpretation of her pieces. Her repertoire has broadened to include pieces that range from the classics such as Beethoven’s Appassionata, to romantic pieces such as Liszt’s Dante Sonata, through to the contemporaries of Samuel Barber.
Ariel has hopes to return to Fort Worth again in the future - but this time, as a performer, competitor and winner.
Repertoire
Apres Une Lecture Du Dante - Annees De Pelerinage II by Franz Liszt
Prelude and Fugue 18 BWV 887 by J.S. Bach
Prelude and Fugue 22 BWV 867 by J.S. Bach
Grande Polonaise Brilliante Op. 22 by Frederic Chopin
Nocturne Opus 72 No. 1, posth. by Frederic Chopin
Nocturne KK IVa No. 16 by Frederic Chopin
Prelude in g minor Op. 23 No. 5 by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Hesitiation Tango and Two-Step - Souvenirs Op. 28 by Samuel Barber
Concerto in A Major KV 488 by W. A. Mozart
Concerto No.1 in e minor by Frederic Chopin
Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini Op. 43 by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sonata No. 23, Appassionata Op. 57 by Ludwig Van Beethoven
Etude Op.2 No.1 by Alexander Scriabin
Sonata No. 7 by Sergei Prokofiev
Competitions
Ariel has received many top awards and recognitions for her piano performance. Her exceptional musicality has impressed countless juries, music teachers, and other professionals in the field:
1st place at the 2007 Emerging Artist Piano Competition
1st place at the 2007 OEC Music Scholarship Competition in Orange County for ages 14-24
1st place at the 2006 Orange Coast Cities North Branch Romantic Festival
1st place at the 2006 MTAC Los Angeles Branch Scholarship Awards
2nd place at the MTAC Los Angeles Branch Sonata/Sonatina Festival
2nd place at the Irvine Classical Music Series Emerging Artists Competition
Winner of the Southern California Junior Bach Festival
Winner at the 2006 Cypress College Piano Competition / Contemporary Era
Finalist for the 2007 “Tomorrow’s Stars” – Orange County Performing Arts Center
Performances
Ariel has performed in a variety of venues such as for a Tsunami relief benefit concert in Phoenix,
community and senior centers, high schools, and churches. In March of 2006, Ariel performed with a 24 member piano ensemble who set a new world-record at the Irvine Barclay Theater with her friend composer, Lyon Lazare. Most recently, Ariel performed at the Hollywood Ford Amphitheater for another Lyon Lazare piano ensemble production, and has been asked once again to be one of six members to perform at the newly opened Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, in Costa Mesa.
Close up on Ariel
Other than piano, do you play any other musical instruments? I love playing the cello almost as much as I love piano. With the cello, the vibes go straight to the heart and I can really feel the music go through me. It’s quite a remarkable sensation!
What do you do for entertainment? “Hey, that’s an easy question! Cartoons!!! I watch them with my 3 year old cousin, but I think I enjoy it more than she does. I know all the songs and my friends make fun of me because I’m singing them all the time. Actually, it’s fantasy that I love. Things that can never really happen in real life is fun to daydream about, so I would consider reading books, watching movies and cartoons as my greatest forms of entertainment.”
People say that you are tougher than you look. Is this true? “What’s that suppose to mean?! Just because I won 1st place in the western regional karate tournament in sparring doesn’t mean I’m tough. Hmmm. My friends did give me a punching bag for my birthday. Maybe they do think I’m tough. I think I’m just a gentle little kitty-cat.”