Whiz Kids: Karin Chan and Daniel Oslin Present Private Chopin Concert

Karin Chan, 15, and Daniel Oslin, 12, recently performed a private Chopin concert at Pacific Regent Bellevue, for an audience that included members of the Northwest Council of the Chopin Foundation of the United States.

The audience included Helen Belvin, former president of the Northwest Council and a resident of Pacific Regent Bellevue.

Karin and Daniel are very accomplished performers of Chopin, according to , which provided the following information about the concert and the performers:

A private audience of classical music lovers sat with rapt attention April 30th at an afternoon concert held at Pacific Regent Bellevue, as 15-year-old Karin Chan and 12-year-old Daniel Oslin performed selections from Chopin.

Karin was a finalist in the Canadian Chopin Festival in 2010 and one of the top winners in the Northwest Chopin Festival in 2012. At present, she is working towards the ARCT Diploma in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Daniel, a sixth grader at North Seattle, has been first prize winner of the 2012 Northwest Chopin Competition, one of ten finalists in the King FM 2012 Young Artists Competitions, and most recently was selected as one of the six winners of the 2012 Seattle Young Artists Festival. This year Daniel will debut with Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra with his performance of Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto.

Among the audience members astounded by these young artists’ gifts on April 30 were the founder, president, program director and other members of the board of the Northwest Council of the Chopin Foundation of the United States. Founder Dr. Steven Lagerberg served as MC.

The private concert was arranged by Helen Belvin, a resident of Pacific Regent Bellevue. Acknowledged in 2010 as an Honored Member of the Seattle Music Teachers Association for her lifetime achievements in music education, service to the association and contributions to the community, Helen served as President of the Board of Directors, Northwest Council of the Chopin Foundation of the United States from 2003-2008. A scholarship fund bearing her name was established by the NW Council Board in 2005.

According to board president Alison Bell, Dr. Lagerberg formed the Northwest Council of the Chopin Foundation in 2001. The 501(c) (3) non-profit organization promotes the marvelous music of the nineteenth century Polish composer, Frederic Chopin. Each year, usually in February, the council hosts the Northwest Chopin Festival at the Seattle Sherman Clay Store and The Mayflower Hotel. The student competition identifies and encourages classical piano skills in young pianists whose ages range from seven to eighteen. Last year 120 participants played in four age-group divisions. Professional music educators from the Pacific Northwest adjudicate the competition. 

The Helen Belvin Scholarship fund aids students who would like to further their schooling in piano performance.  All contributions are tax-deductible. Visit www.chopinnw.org to learn more.

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