Alumni Spotlight 2016: Desi Silverman-Joseph
Desi Silverman-Joseph
Teachers: Joan Garver & Joyce Li (Joyce & Desi on YouTube)
At the young age of 11, Desi Silverman-Joseph won a total of SEVEN prizes in the 2016 festival, thereby shattering all previous prize-garnering records since the festival began in 2001.
• ARTIST PIANIST AWARD
• BEST PERFORMANCE OF PRE-BAROQUE, BAROQUE WORK OR CLASSICAL PERIOD WORK
• BEST COMPOSITION BY A BUDDING YOUNG COMPOSER
• FINALIST: BEST ORIGINAL WRITTEN COMPOSITION
• BEST DEMONSTRATION OF GENUINELY SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISATION
• BEST PERFORMANCE OF A ROMANTIC PERIOD WORK
• MOST VERSATILE PIANIST
DESI’S BIO
Desi started playing piano with a Suzuki instructor, Joan Garver, when he was only 4 years old. He has been with his current teacher, Joyce Li, since the age of 7.
• In 2014, he won first place in the CSMTA Rising Stars Festival as well as the Schmitt Piano Competition.
• In 2014, he also performed with the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge.
• Jack Younger and Desi placed second in the 2016 International Duo Piano Competition.
• Desi was also a winner in the Advanced Competitive Division of the 2016 Schmitt Music competition.
Desi likes to compose in a variety of styles and listen to classical music, especially by Chopin and Shostakovich. This was evident in his Chopin-esque Night Eagle Nocturne.
He also enjoys listening to contemporary music by Bruno Mars, Jason Mraz, the Beatles (“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!”), and Train.