Local musicians heading to Carnegie Hall

For two Thunder Bay pianists, playing at Carnegie Hall was never a tangible dream.

But this Sunday Jonathan Boo and Robyn Tenkula will show their talents at the famed New York City concert hall in the Winner’s Recital of the Crescendo International Music Competition. The competition focuses on young talent in the U.S. and now for the second year – Canada.
 
Tenkula, a fourth-year music student at Lakehead University, and Boo, a recent graduate of LU’s music program, sent audition CDs to Montreal in December. They competed against musicians from cities like Montreal, Boston and New York.

“I wouldn’t have ever really expected to be going there so I wouldn’t consider it a very serious dream, but I suppose it’s every piano player’s ideal to play at that hall,” said Boo, adding the decision to audition was made in the heat of the moment.

“I had two days to get the audition CD ready,” he said. “I just didn’t really think too much about it. It was a nice surprise.”

Although she has been playing piano since she was five years old, Tenkula considers herself more of a music teacher than a performer.
 
“I’m not really a performer; this is crazy that this is happening,” she said. “I guess it’s a dream come true for me.”

The pair auditioned for the competition upon the urging of LU music teacher Evgueni Tchougounov, who said most Canadian students that auditioned were from either Toronto or Montreal.

The fact that Tenkula and Boo are headed to New York City is a great incentive for other Thunder Bay musicians, he said.

“I wish students from this school will see some perspective; they could go much further and there are no limits in our artistic and creative development,” he said. “They can go to Carnegie Hall.”

And while the two pianists are excited for Sunday’s show, they’re both also a little nervous to take the stage.

But Tchougounov is certain they’ll both put on a wonderful performance.

“Just be confident during their playing and have fun,” he said.