Azalea Kelley

The Chopin Foundation of the United States scholarship recipient.

We would like to congratulate the Brooklyn College Preparatory Center for the Performing Arts' very own Azalea Kelley on becoming a 2018-2019 Scholarship Recipient of the Chopin Foundation of the United States. The Chopin Foundation Scholarship Program was created to assist young, talented American pianists in their career development and to open doors to international careers. The Foundation seeks to expose classical music, especially the music of Frederic Chopin, to everyone. The Scholarship program provides pianists up to four years of preparation for the National Chopin Piano Competition of the United States, held in Miami, Florida, every five years. Azalea Kelley has been training with the Prep Center for more then 5 years, instructed by her piano teacher Emily White.

With all of her overwhelming success, we wanted to hear from Azalea herself. Below is an interview between Gerard and Azalea:

G: How did you prepare for the Chopin competition?

A: Part of the completion was preparing a video, so I was in the recording studio over and over until I got it right. I practiced the same as always, usually two hours a day.

G: What areas of performing arts are you interested in? A: I’ve been studying piano and dance for 11 years. Ballet, modern, contemporary, also musical theater. I also sing and have done a little violin.

G: Did you think you would win the award?

A: I was very confident when I left the studio that I really got it—that I did a really good job in my performance. After the competition, there was a two month waiting period.

G: What are your current objectives as a musician, artist, and student?

A: To learn more Chopin. I also want to continue to take lessons in modern dance.

G: What has helped you in your training at the Prep Center?

A: I think it’s a great place to give opportunities for kids to learn the performing arts. The teachers are all great. There are lots of opportunities to learn. The weekly recitals are great, because you see the progress of the students. The master classes, especially, have been very helpful. You get different perspectives from different students in the class. You get practical advice from your instructors that help you in your performance.

G: What contemporary artists do you like, or inspire you?

A: Martha Argerich for piano, also Rubinstein. For dance, Sara Michelle Murawski. She doesn’t have a “traditional” dancer body type, and her work is really wonderful. I just saw Taylor Swift in concert, and she was amazing. There were these pyrotechnics on stage, and she could hit these high notes… she’s a better singer than a lot of people give her credit for.

G: What have you been doing with yourself over the summer?

A: I just finished a summer intensive with the American Academy of Ballet. It was amazing.

G: Is there anything else you’d like to say as we close our interview?

A: Just to tell everyone that they need to come to the (Prep Center) recitals!