2001-2002 MTNA student competitions national winners - Music Teachers National Association

American Music Teacher, June-July, 2002

STUDENT COMPOSITION COMPETITION

Sponsored by Warner Bros. Publications, Inc. Elementary

Natasha Sinha is eleven years old and in the sixth grade. She started playing the piano at age 5 and enrolled in the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. She began composing at 7, and by ages 8 and 9 won the first- and second-prize awards at the Massachusetts State Piano Competitions. Also at age 9, she won the 2000 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Foundation--Morton Gould Young Composers Award. Natasha studies composition with Alla Cohen. (photo [c] 2002 Harry Butler, Nashville)

Second Place: Eric Verne Eason, West Central Division (Colorado); John Drumheller, teacher

Third Place: Conrad Y. Tao, East Central Division (Illinois); Matthew Hagel, teacher

Junior High School

Fourteen-year-old Sebastian Chang began to compose at age 5. He studies piano with Mark Sullivan and music composition/theory with Bruce Miller. He has studied music composition and piano with Suzanne Wong-Abe for eight years. He is a ninth-grade student at the Orange County High School of the Arts. Sebastian has performed throughout the United States, Asia and Canada as both pianist and featured composer. Moonlight Masquerade, for violin and piano, won first prize in the 2000 MTNA Elementary Composition Competition.

Second Place: Zachary Bernstein, Northwest Division (Washington); Tanya Stambuk, teacher

Third Place: Andrew Barnes Jamieson, East Central Division (Illinois); Terry L. Tennes, teacher

High School

Daniel Tacke, 16, has studied piano since age 3 and composition from age 9. He has received honors in the Washington State MTNA Junior High School Piano Competition and was first alternate in the Washington State MTNA High School Piano Competition. Daniel has received several Outstanding Performance Awards at the Seattle Young Artists Festival and holds the Advanced Certificate with Distinction in performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

Second Place: Patrick Hart, Southern Division (Tennessee); Karen Ann Krieger, teacher

Third Place: Anna Katharine Lindemann, West Central Division (Colorado); Eric Lindemann, teacher

Collegiate

James Michael David currently is active as a composer, trombonist and teacher. He began writing music at age 11. His works have received several distinctions including performances at the 2000 International Clarinet Festival and the 1999 International Trombone Festival. He has been commissioned by the Georgia Governor's Honors Program, the U.S. Army Band of Europe and Blair Bollinger (bass trombone, Philadelphia Orchestra) with the U.S. Army Field Band. James is a master's student in composition, studying with William Davis at the University of Georgia.

Second Place: Andrew Norman, Southwest Division (California); Martha Ashleigh, teacher

Third Place: Jorge Alfredo Santa Ana Gurrola, West Central Division (Missouri); Warren P. Gooch, teacher

MTNA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE COMPETITIONS

MTNA Junior High School Brass Competition, sponsored by The Selmer Company

Matt Schnarr has played the trombone for four years and is a student of Todd Johnson. He attends public school in Conway, Arkansas, and is in the ninth grade. Matt is first chair in his school band, in the Arkansas Region VII All-Region Concert and Jazz Bands and at the Dixie Band Camp. He has earned the musicianship award for his grade twice. Matt received superior ratings for the past two years in Region VII Solo and Ensemble Competitions. (photo [c] 2002 Harry Butler, Nashville)

Second Place: Jason Ward, Southern Division (South Carolina); Gayle Chesebro, teacher

Third Place: Kate O'Donnell, Eastern Division (West Virginia); Bonnie Miltenberger, teacher

MTNA Junior High School Percussion Competition, sponsored by the MTNA FOUNDATION

Michael Sayers studies percussion with Beth Gottlieb and piano with his mother, Pati Sayers. He is in eighth grade at Gray Middle School in Groveland, Florida, and lives in Clermont. He is a member of his school band, the 2001 Florida All-State Band and the Lake County Honor Band and is one of the youngest members of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. Michael has received superior ratings in festivals and received the Windy Hill Middle School Outstanding Band Member award.

Second Place: Brian Mengwasser, West Central Division (Missouri); Chris Treloar, teacher

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MTNA Junior High School Piano Competition, sponsored by Baldwin Piano Company

Denise Yen is a student of Ginger Chen. She is in ninth grade at Dunwoody High School in Dunwoody, Georgia. In addition to the piano, she plays viola in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. She has received first place for four years in the Kawai Piano Competition and was a division winner. She has won the Jo Evans and A.S.Y.O. Competitions and received third place in the Brevard International Piano Competition. She has appeared on the National Public Radio show From the Top.

Second Place: Lindsay Garritson, West Central Division (Missouri); Zena Ilyashov, teacher