Rubens Maybe you can re-frame this in your mind, since it seems to be something that you and a couple other advanced pianists are bothered by, but it’s not something that’s bothered all advanced pianists, as several have contributed quite regularly to the ABF recitals. I’m pretty new to the recitals and had my own initial reservations about contributing (mostly to do with not having things perfectly polished). But here’s a little bit for you to chew on.
I’ve participated in several ABF recitals at this point, and there is a huge range in both skill/level, and outside of the themed recitals, also in musical genres/styles. It’s about sharing part of your piano journey with others. I think it’s helpful to beginners to hear from non-professionals at every stage, and I think this is how most of them seem to understand things, as well. So you get people who are fairly close to you in skill/level/interests, and also people who are very far away. For some, the recitals may make them much more aware of particular genres of music (or specific pieces) that they didn’t know they liked, and it’s an entry to explore those areas. We all have things both to learn and to teach. So I think if you approach it from that spirit, there shouldn’t be a reason to avoid participating.
I’ll give you a few examples from my personal experience of the recitals. In my first recital, I played a very little known Ukrainian piece, and people asked for the sheet music, which I was able to share. I was really happy to share something that I very much consider a ‘rare gem,’ even though it was far from a perfect performance. In the January recital, I played Barber’s 3rd movement of Excursions. It’s not Campanella, but it’s got plenty of challenges, many of them rhythmic. In any event, several people (who from their recital submissions I consider every bit as ‘skilled’ — if not moreso— than I am, reached out and said that they had thought previously about working on it, but had been put off when they started trying. So I shared my experience of how I worked through the challenges. They were really nice interactions to have, and maybe my playing inspired someone to give the piece another look.
Anyways, those are just some thoughts. I for one don’t think there’s a problem with having Campanella next to Mary Had a Little Lamb, or someone playing video game music or doing an improv. It’s all a good time!