Mike Tellin's review for 2012 Cleveland International Piano Competiiton for young artists
Vanessa Meiling Haynes, a freshman at Indiana University High School in Bloomington, Indiana, the final contestant in Junior division, opened with a well balanced and articulated account of the first movement, Allegro assai from the Sonata No. 23 in minor, Op. 57 Appassionata of Beethoven, full of dynamic contrasts. Ms. Haynes possesses a dark, rich, large tone and an impressive technique, which she used to her full advantage during her second selection, Chopin’s Etude Op. 25, No. 11 “Winter Wind”.
Clevelandclassical.com