“Virginian Jeanne Backofen Craig, 46, presented a nearly perfectly balanced, beautifully performed program made up of two contrasting elements in the form of J. S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G-sharp minor from Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier and Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1 in E. With a very light, expert approach to the pedal, Backofen created an engaging ebb-and-flow in the Bach Prelude and a sense of serene persistence (all the while communicating the contrapuntal complexity) in the Fugue. She followed this with a wonderfully resonant reading of the flowing textures and impressionist emotions of the Debussy.” – Wayne Lee Gay, theaterjones.com

“One of my favorites in the prelims had been Jeanne Backofen Craig of Virginia for her clean and stylish performances of music by Bach and Debussy. Tuesday she switched styles and charmed with pieces by Grieg, Haydn and Liszt.” – Olin Chism, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“Jeanne Backofen Craig freshened the repertoire list with the sweet lyricism of Grieg’s Notturno—including a beautifully played, delicate bird-song, and a wonderful range of controlled color in the melody line. The energetic classicism of Haydn’s Sonata in E-flat roared in with energy and finely-honed clarity…” – Wayne Lee Gay, theaterjones.com

“Another consistently outstanding competitor was Jeanne Backofen Craig of the United States, whose performances… confirmed the strong impression she had made in the prelims and quarterfinals…” – Olin Chism, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“Craig presented the Brahms with the calm intensity the work demands, then shifted outlook smoothly to Liszt’s initially introspective music, which flows toward full-blown Lisztian ecstasy and virtuosity—with particularly mean octave passages. Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11, featuring folk-like melodies decorated with a full house of pianistic tricks, gave Craig a final test—easily passed—in technique and romantic style.” — Wayne Lee Gay, Theaterjones.com