Wolfville teen heading to piano nationals

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

Kings County Register

Clara Hodder of Wolfville won the senior piano class recently at this year’s Annapolis Valley Music Festival with “Bartock Dances.”

Hodder is turning into an exceptional young pianist, and has been selected to compete in the national finals of the Canadian Music Competition 2008. She will head to Quebec City to perform in front of a panel of five judges at the end of June.

She gained performing experience at the music festival, earning the award for “best overall pianist” last year, the Bach trophy for two years and highest average trophy for four years in her levels. She was the Provincial Registered Music Teachers’ Scholarship competition winner for the last three years, and has three RCM exam silver medals to her credit for the highest mark in Atlantic Canada.

“I have been practicing every day and never miss - since I was eight years old,” says Hodder. Up at the crack of dawn, she always puts in 90 minutes of piano practice before getting on with the rest of her busy day.

“I just love the music, but I also work very hard at it. I have very smart teachers, and I do exactly what they ask of me. I like to try music that is challenging. I especially loved a Chopin piece that I did two years ago.”

Every year, Hodder has taken one to three Royal Conservatory of Music exams, always wanting to attempt more and more challenging music.

For the national competition, Hodder will play the Kabalevsky Piano Concerto Number 3, Op. 50.

“It’s 29 pages long - the longest piece that I have ever learned.”

In order to be prepared, she has increased her rehearsal schedule to three or four hours daily, including four lessons each week with her music teacher, Barbara Hanson, with extra support from her husband, Prof. John Hansen. She will also play a few concerts in the Valley and at her church in the weeks before she leaves for Quebec City.

Hodder comes from a musical family: her mom, Christy Hodder, is a Suzuki violin teacher and well-known Celtic music recording artist. Her brother, Gregory, made his own guitar, and her little sister, Elsa, is an accomplished singer and dancer. There is always someone on the “practice schedule with Mom” at the Hodder house.

Christy is now working with husband Mark Hodder, a Kentville paramedic, to raise money for Hodder’s competition.

“We have to pay for everything,” says Christy: “music lessons, travel, accompanist, hotel…everything. This a wonderful opportunity for Clara, though, and we are working hard looking for sponsors for her to make this happen.”

Anyone interesting is assisting the Hodder family may phone 542-3416.