Helen Nguyen is a junior, originally from from Thủ Đức City - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Kieran Alston is also a junior from Makawao, HI.
As a piano duo, Helen and Kieran recently won the state Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) piano competition in Kalamazoo.
They now advance to the Senior Division round of regional competition, and if they’re successful there, they will reach the Nationals next year.
Both Helen and Kieran came to Interlochen Arts Academy as freshmen, and they were initially paired as a duo because they were the only freshmen in the piano duo.
They clicked artistically, and they continue to play together in their junior year.
Although Helen had occasionally played piano duos before coming to Interlochen, Kieran had never played any kind of chamber music before.
When they first began playing together, they switched off the primo (right side of the bench facing the piano, playing the higher parts) and secondo (left side of the bench facing the piano, playing the lower notes) parts. These days, they both feel most comfortable with Helen playing the primo and Kieran playing the secondo.
"I can do a good job of playing more of a supporting role," Kieran said. "Helen can play the melodies really nicely."
"He always supports my part really well," Helen said. "His music language is really easy to follow."
And who does the page turning?
"Whoever's available," they said, laughing.
Music performed in Studio A
Felix Mendelssohn, Allegro Brillant
George Gershwin, arr. Logan Skelton, Fascinating Rhythm
John Corigliano, Gazebo Dances: III. Adagio; IV. Tarantella
Michael Culler engineered this edition of Studio A.
Kara Huber and Christopher Goodpasture provided additional support.
IPR's digital content is managed by Scott Clemens, with support from Isabel Li.
