Gina Bachauer competitor returns as a judge

SALT LAKE CITY — Alexander Krichel’s mother, Sorina, never dreamed her son would be selected as a peer jury judge for the Gina Bachauer International Competition when she began giving him piano lessons at age 6.

"I see the piano as something like a friend who always understands me," said Krichel. "I play the piano because it is an urge within me." It is Krichel’s dream to become a concert pianist.

Krichel, 17, was born in Hamburg, Germany. He and his family are members of St. Mary Parish in Hamburg. Krichel was invited by Dr. Paul Pollei, founder and artistic director of the Gina Bachauer International Competition to serve as the chairman of the peer jury for the 2006 International Artists Competition held in June. Krichel was a competitor in the 2005 Gina Bachauer International Young Artists Piano Competition.

David and Mary Miller of St. Olaf Parish, Bountiful, hosted Krichel and his family this year, as they did last year.

The preliminary rounds for the 2006 competition were performed in the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City with the finals being held at Abravanel Hall. Dr. Pollei invited Krichel to be the chairman last January at the Gina Bachauer pre-selection competition in Hamburg where Krichel was serving as a translator in German, French, and English.

The peer jury has become a successful part of past Gina Bachauer competitions including the Artists Piano Competition in 2002, the Junior Competition of 2004, and the Young Artists Competition in 2005.

The peer jury is designed to encourage a total immersion of listening for students and lovers of piano music, and those who are willing and committed to be present at every round of the competition. The peer jury selected their preferred winner from among the six finalists at the conclusion of the competition. Krichel presented the award to Takashi Yamamoto of Nagano, Japan, who placed second in the 2006 competition.

Krichel said he thought being a judge would be much easier than it was. During the eight-hour time period each day, Krichel had to have complete concentration not only enjoying listening to each competitor, but also listening to each competitor’s technique, style, and the vibrancy of their music. Each competitor must play the music in the typical style of the composer. For example, Mozart is played in a very light style, whereas Chopin is played in a very deep and heavy style. The judges must look at the overall performance of each competitor before coming to a conclusion.

"Being a judge was a good experience," said Krichel. "I saw many different interpretations and techniques. The interpretations are not from the pianists, they are from the teachers, who have very different opinions. That is what made it so special. I saw many very good things and very bad things, and I learned what I would like to add and subtract from my own performances. Performing on stage is very different from listening. As an observer you see everything a pianist is trying to do. As a performer you are thinking about what you are going to play next."

In 2000, five years after Krichel began playing the piano, he passed the entrance examination and became a member of the Foerderklasse, a course for gifted young musicians. In 2005, he was one of six students selected among 350 applicants who passed the examination for entry into the College of Music and Drama in Hamburg. He is a pre-music student, and was surprised when he was selected because he has not yet graduated from high school. He will graduate from high school in 2008, when he is 19 years old. In Germany, students attend high school for 13 years.

Krichel is currently the youngest student to attend classes at the College of Music and Drama. He also takes mathematics classes at the university, where he passed an entrance examination with honors.

"If someone could give me a guarantee that I could have a music career, that would be my first choice," said Krichel. "But I also want to go to medical school to become a heart surgeon.

"My grandfather passed away last summer because the surgeon made a poor decision," said Krichel. "I know how I felt when this happened, and I want to be able to help others so they do not have the same experience. When I was 4 years old, I wanted to become a wizard or a magician because our neighbor was a wizard. She told me I could be a medical wizard and make human beings healthy, and the idea has stayed with me."

Krichel said so many things can happen in two years, and he feels at that time he will have to choose between music and medicine. But for now he will continue working hard in school, practicing the piano six hours each day, and working with his agent performing, competing, and hopefully becoming a well-known performing artist.