Snowy Range Piano Competition, a regional piano competition for young artists of ages 16 to 19, who are residents of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana and Idaho sponsored by the Linford Pfeifer Foundation and the University of Wyoming.

The goal of the Snowy Range Piano Competition is to promote classical piano performance and to encourage young pianists residing in the Rocky Mountain region to pursue higher education. The competition is sponsored by the Linford Pfeifer Foundation in partnership with the University of Wyoming. There are two divisions. The University of Wyoming Division competition is held in alternate years, the most recent competition being held on November 15, 2009. All UW students who are 17 to 26 years of age are eligible. The Regional Division is held annually for young pianists who are of age 16 to 19 and are residents of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana, or Idaho. The 2010 regional competition will be held on the weekend of May 22-23. Our primary goal in establishing this competition is to provide young pianists in the region with a supportive environment in which to develop their performance skills. We view the event as a developmental tool for students who wish to gain experience in a smaller competition environment and would like the opportunity to have in-depth discussions with the judges about all aspects of their performance. We believe that many young pianists at various stages in their instruction can benefit from this experience and would like to extend the opportunity to a broader range of participants.

To accomplish these objectives, we have implemented some changes for the 2010 regional SRPC competition: 1) The program time will be a minimum of 20 minutes and a maximum of 35 minutes, 2) The amount of program time in the semi-final round that may be repeated in the final round will be 15 minutes, and 3) Master classes and private lessons, conducted by the judges, will be offered by the Foundation to the contestants. Changes to the performance requirements for 2010 and details on the classes/lessons are discussed on the Performance Phases page. Information on eligibility, facilities, and prizes are also available on this website. We encourage the participation of music professionals and others dedicated to the arts to ensure the success of the program. Contact information and links to participating organizations are provided below.

Yu Zhang was born in Yibin, China on Nov 27, 1984. He has received systematic music training since he was seven years old. In 1995, he was admitted to the Yibin Xinghai Music School with honors, and studied with Linsheng Yuan, Chair of the school. During that period, he participated in performances and piano contests, one of which brought him a first prize in Sichuan Province, China. Mr. Zhang entered Shanghai University as a management science major, where he received professional mathematics, economics and management education. In May of 2004, he performed the Yellow River Piano Concerto with the Shanghai University Symphony Orchestra at the University’s anniversary ceremony. After two years’ study in Shanghai, Mr. Zhang transferred to the University of Wyoming in the fall of 2004, where he has been studying piano with Dr. Theresa Bogard. He was the winner of both the 2007 and 2008 MTNA Young Artist Piano Performance Wyoming State Competitions and the second-prize winner of the 2007 UW Snowy Range Piano Competition. He received an honorable mention in both the 2008 and 2009 MTNA Young Artist Piano Performance Northwest Division Competition. Most recently, he was the winner of the 2009 UW Snowy Range Piano Competition and 2009 MTNA Young Artist Piano Performance Wyoming State Competition. He is currently pursuing the Master's of Music Degree in piano performance at the University of Wyoming.

Xiaoqian Gou was born on Dec 5, 1984 in Shaanxi, China. Starting at the age of 5, he had piano training with Mrs. Du Xixian of the Shaanxi Provincial Ensemble. In 1996, he was the 2nd place prize winner of the “Zhujiang Award” for the youth piano competition in Northwest China. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Gou received his piano training at the Canton-Xinghai Conservatory of Music. From 2001 to 2004, he studied at the Xi’an Conservatory of Music under Prof. Tao Minxia, Prof. Sokolova Svetrana (Russian), as well as receiving special classes by pianist Shi Shucheng (China) and Klaus Besler (Germany). Between 2004 and 2008, Mr. Gou studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in the Bachelor Degree Piano Program under the guidance of Prof. Su Bin (grad. in France) and Prof. Sun Yun (grad. in USA). Mr. Gou participated in the 2005 International Pianist Master Class at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the 2006 master class of Boris Berman (USA). He is presently in his first year with Dr. Theresa Bogard at the University of Wyoming.

Mei Lian is Korean and was born on the 17th of December, 1986 in China. She is a senior at the University of Wyoming, majoring in piano performance. When she was 12 years old, she entered the China Shanghai Music Conservatory of middle school on scholarship. At 15 years of age, she won second place in the Shanghai Shan De Bei Competition at the junior high level and honorable mention. In 2002, Ms. Lian studied at the Royal College of Music in Calgary, Canada for two semesters. During her study in Canada, she received acclaim for her recitals and performances in Vancouver. In 2006, she won the Wyoming division of the MTNA Competition and competed in Idaho State, taking second place. In 2009, she competed in the MTNA Competition and received honorable mention. Ms. Lian has been studying with Dr. Theresa Bogard and Dr. Silvana Santinelli. After completion of her degree at the University of Wyoming, she will continue on with graduate studies in music performance.

Born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1989, Fan-Ya Lin began her piano studies at age four. She studied with Dr. Ru-Lin Lai and Qing-Wen Tu at the Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University. Fan-Ya has been selected as a top prize winner in numerous piano competitions in Taiwan, including first place at the 2000 Mandarin Daily News National Piano Competition, first place at the 2002 KAWAI National Piano Competition, second place at the 2003 YAMAHA National Piano Competition, honorable mention in the 2006 New Art National Music Competition, honorable mention in the 2006 Hsing Tein Kong Music Competition for Talented Youth, and first place at the 2007 National Chamber Music Competition. In 2007, Fan-Ya was selected by The 3rd Treasury of Young Musicians Project as one of the "rising stars" and most promising young pianists in Taiwan, through which she received rigorous training sponsored by the Taiwan Government to prepare for a professional career and represent Taiwan in several international piano competitions. Fan-Ya Lin has attended many music festivals and piano master classes by renowned pianists and music teachers such as Gwhyneth Chen, Ivo Pogorelich, Gergely Boganyi, Lev Klychkov, Dr. Boris Berman, Dr. Rektor Siegfried Mauser, Tamas Vasary, Sung-Won Lee, Nelson Delle-Vigne Fabbri, Stephane Lemelin, Dr. Nelita True, and Dr. Regina Yeh. Fan-Ya was accepted into several prestigious music schools in Taiwan and the United States. Receiving a four-year scholarship, she enrolled in Weber State University in Utah and is a student of Dr. Yu-Jane Yang and Dr. Ralph ven der Beek. In 2008, Fan-Ya Lin won first place prizes at the University of Utah Concerto Competition, the Utah Symphony "Salute to Youth" Auditions, and the University of Utah SummerArts Competition. She placed fourth in the New York International Piano Competition. With great love and passion for music, it is Fan-Ya's ultimate goal to become a concert pianist.

Michael Stewart, born in 1989, began his piano studies at the age of 6. He has won many prizes at competitions including first prize in the Aloha International Piano Competition, second prize in the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, and fourth place in the New York International Piano Competition. In addition, Mr. Stewart has received first place awards in the National Coeur d'Alene Symphony Competition, Utah State Fair Competition, Utah Symphony Youth Guild Competitions, and the University of Utah SummerArts and Concerto Competitions. He has placed and received top honors in many other competitions including the UFMC Stillman Kelley Competition, the MTNA Competition, and the International Competition for Creative Pianists. In addition, Michael has been a finalist in the Lennox International Competition and the Sterling Scholar Program. Mr. Stewart has been a featured soloist over a dozen times with various orchestras including the Utah Symphony, Coeur d'Alene Symphony, SummerArts Symphony Orchestra, Salt Lake Symphony, Utah Philharmonia, and Riverton Metropolitan Orchestra. Michael has appeared in the following venues: Greenwald Hall at the Congregation Emanu-El in New York, the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., Abravanel Hall, the Libby Gardner Concert Hall, the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, the Utah Governor's Mansion, and numerous others. Michael has also performed in master classes with Murray Perahia, Martin Canin, Ian Hobson, Martin Jones, Leslie Howard, Ana Maria Bottazzi, and Jon Kimura Parker. Professionally, Michael has accompanied numerous soloists and choirs and is a pianist at the Desert Star Cabaret Theatre. Michael has been an adjudicator at WestFest, as well as a peer jurist at the Gina Bachauer International and the Julia Crane International Competitions. He maintains a piano studio and enjoys sharing the beauty and joy of music with others. Currently, Michael is pursuing an honors degree in Piano Performance under the direction of Dr. Susan Duehlmeier at the University of Utah, with whom he has been studying since 2001.

Christina Qi is a future MIT biology and music major with a passion for piano. Christina won her first national-regional piano competition, the North West Regional Piano Competition in Conway, Arkansas, at age 6. In 2008, she took first place in the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, with 400 contestants from over 21 countries competing for the title. She was invited to make a debut at world-renowned Carnegie Hall in May, 2008. She was invited back to New York to perform at Steinway Hall upon winning the Jorge Bolet Distinguished Performer Award at the Stony Brook International Piano Festival in New York, where she was one of 10 invitees, and where she also received their highest scholarship. Christina has also taken first place in the International Competition for Creative Pianists, the MTNA Competition, all 4 divisions of the Future Music Teacher’s Piano Competition (winning the senior division in elementary school), the Riverton Metropolitan Orchestra Concerto Competition, the West Fest Talent Contest, the Joy Robin Piano Competition, and USU Piano Festival for multiple years. Recently, her piano performances were featured in MIT’s Talent Showcase for students and parents. Christina was the youngest member of the Utah State Youth Conservatory and has taught piano lessons since the age of 10. She has accompanied choirs, pianists, musical orchestras, and various instrumentalists throughout the years. She has been a student of Professor Gary Amano for 8 years. Academically, she is the only Utah recipient of the National Scholar Award. Other awards include the Scientific American Award, National Merit, and the President’s Award for Educational Excellence. Christina believes that music is more than a universal language; it expresses what words cannot describe, reaches for what logic cannot portray, and unites the world where a peace treaty cannot. She hopes to continue spreading the gift of music, whether by teaching or performing, for as long as she breathes.

John Sargeant has studied piano for over eleven years, seven of which have been with Professor Gary Amano. He won first place in the MTNA National Junior Baldwin Piano Competition in 2005, the UMTA State Concerto Competition in 2002 and 2008, the Utah Symphony Youth Guild Competition in 2002 and 2006, the USU Piano Festival competitions in 2002 (elem.), 2004 (jr.), and 2005 (sr.), and the Utah State Fair Competition in 2002. Mr. Sargeant has performed with six orchestras. He will enter Utah State University in the fall of 2008, continuing his piano studies with Prof. Amano.

Conlan Miller is the 2006 and 2007 State of Utah MTNA winner in the Senior Piano Division and the winner of the 2008 Southwest Division. He took first place at the Utah Valley Symphony Young Artist competition in 2007. At age eleven, he performed Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Utah Valley Symphony in Provo, Utah. He performed the complete Second Piano Concerto by Rachmaninoff with the Utah Symphony in 2006, in addition to his previous engagements with the symphony in 2003 and 2005. Mr. Miller will continue his piano studies with Prof. Irene Peery-Fox at BYU.

Jessica Roderer began piano at the age of three. She received first place at the Utah State Fair Music Competition in 2006, the UMTA Concerto Competition in 2005, and the USU Concerto Night Competition in 2006. She also won the California MTNA Competition in 2005 and was a finalist in the national competition in that year. She has received top prizes at the Idaho International Piano Competition in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Ms. Roderer was a soloist with the Utah Symphony in 2004 and soloed at the USU Concerto Night in 2007. She will continue her piano studies at the University of Southern California under Prof. Norman Krieger.