2003-2004 MTNA National Student Competitions winners

American Music Teacher, June-July, 2004

Second Place: Robert Gibson, South Central Division (Texas); Adam Holzman, teacher

Third Place: Adam Pettit, Eastern Division (Maryland); Julian Gray, teacher

MTNA Young Artist organ Competition Sponsored by the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND

Jennifer Hudson Gay earned a bachelor's degree in organ performance from James Madison University. Currently, she is working on a master's degree in sacred music at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, where she studies with Janette Fishell. In 2003, Jennifer was the winner of the Metropolitan Music Ministries organ Scholarship Competition. Jennifer and her husband, Joel, are the music ministers at the First United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Second Place: Joanna Li, South Central Division (Texas); Joyce Jones, teacher

Third Place: Carrie Spronk, West Central Division (Iowa); Joan Ringerwole, teacher

MTNA Young Artist Percussion Competition Sponsored by the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND

Casey Cangelosi is a percussion performance major at Utah State University, where he studies with Dennis Griffin. He has won several Percussion Art Society awards, including the Yamaha scholarship to P.A.S.I.C. 2003, by playing his original marimba compositions. This year Casey will perform a self-composition of one movement for solo marimba and orchestra with the Utah State University orchestra. Casey's interests and strengths with percussion are in marimba literature, rudimental snare and drum set.

Second Place: William Solomon, West Central Division (Missouri); James Snell, teacher

Third Place: Justin Nace, Eastern Division (Pennsylvania); Chris Harming, teacher

MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition Sponsored by Steinway & Sons

Nathan Brandwein studies piano with Pavlina Dokovksa at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. Nathan, who made his orchestral debut at age 7 with the Kansas City Philharmonia, he has received numerous awards, prizes and scholarships. His performance travels include two trips to Germany, concerts at the 2002 Adriatic Chamber Music Festival in Rome, Italy, and most recently a month studying and performing at the summer session of the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France.

Second Place: Hong Xu, Eastern Division (New York); Douglas Humpherys, teacher

Third Place: Tanya Karyagina, Southwest Division (California); John Perry, teacher

MTNA Young Artist String Competition Sponsored by the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND

Anna Burden is a sophomore at Northwestern University, where she studies cello with Hans Jensen. In 2002, she won first place in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition with the Orion Piano Trio, and in 2003 she received an honorable mention from the Washington International Competition and from the Society for American Musicians competition. Anna has performed with the Kishwaukee Symphony, the Washington Chamber Symphony and the Midwest Young Artists Orchestra.

Second Place: Jared Scott, Southwest Division (Arizona); Nelzimar Neeves, teacher

Third Place: Jay Tilton, Southern Division (Tennessee); Felix Wang, teacher