Winners
2019 FSMTA Competitive Events Winners
The competitions were held on Saturday, May 18 at Hillsborough Community College, Ybor City Campus. Congratulations to all of this year’s competitors and their teachers and families! Countless hours of work, guidance, and support went into the many fine performances at our competitive events.
Erin Bennett, VP for FSMTA Competitive Events
Gray Perry Collegiate Young Artist
Byrd Pre-College Piano Ensemble
Senior Piano Concerto
Intermediate Piano Concerto
Junior Piano Concerto
Senior Voice
Senior String Concerto
Intermediate String Concerto
Junior String Concerto
The competitions were held on Saturday, May 18 at Hillsborough Community College, Ybor City Campus. Congratulations to all of this year’s competitors and their teachers and families! Countless hours of work, guidance, and support went into the many fine performances at our competitive events.
Erin Bennett, VP for FSMTA Competitive Events
Gray Perry Collegiate Young Artist
- Winner: Robiyakhon Akromova; Teacher: Roberta Rust, District 6
- Second: Derek Alexander; Teacher: Yun-Ling Hsu, District 5
Byrd Pre-College Piano Ensemble
- Winners: Shayna Singer & Quin Nardone; Teacher: Maria Gomez, District 6
Senior Piano Concerto
- Winner: Madison Yan; Teacher: Irena Kofman, District 6
- Second (tie): Kathy Liu; Teacher: Vladimir Khokhlov, District 9
- Second (tie): Meryl Liu; Teacher: Oleg Barsov, District 5
Intermediate Piano Concerto
- Winner: Gabriel Sun; Teacher: Maria Gomez, District 6
- Second: Janet Liu; Teacher: Stella Gaukhshteyn, District 9
- Honorable Mention: Katie Carlson; Teacher: Mary Lou Wesley Krosnick, District 4
Junior Piano Concerto
- Winner: Vincent Pham; Teacher: Vladimir Khokhlov, District 9
- Second: Siyang Ding; Teacher: Roxanne Stevenson, District 6
- Honorable Mention: Emmanuel Zheng; Teacher: Hee Jung Kang, District 3
Senior Voice
- Winner: Shayna Singer; Teacher: Maria Gomez, District 6
Senior String Concerto
- Winner: Sophia Molina; Teacher: Huifang Chen, District 6
- Second: Karishma Chapalamadugu; Teacher: Yan Lu, District 9
Intermediate String Concerto
- Winner: Elena Lim; Teacher: Huifang Chen, District 6
- Second: Leo Lam; Teacher: Howard Yu, District 9
Junior String Concerto
- Winner: Sophie De; Teacher: Stephen Fine, District 3
- Second: Fiona Lin Blackburn; Teacher: Yan Lu, District 9
- Honorable Mention: Catherine Zhao; Teacher: Huifang Chen, District 6
2019 MTNA Southern Division Winners
FSMTA would like to extend their congratulations to the following students, their families, and teachers for their success in the MTNA Southern Division online round. The following students have won their events and and will be continuing on to the MTNA National Competition to be held in Spokane, Washington.
Congratulations also to the following, who placed as honorable mention or alternate:
We are so proud of your hard work and accomplishment, and wish you all the best of luck as you prepare for the National Competition in March!
Lydia Blakemore
VP MTNA Competitive Events
FSMTA would like to extend their congratulations to the following students, their families, and teachers for their success in the MTNA Southern Division online round. The following students have won their events and and will be continuing on to the MTNA National Competition to be held in Spokane, Washington.
- Chamber Wind: Knights Saxophone Quartet (University of Central Florida), Teacher George Werumchuk
- Senior Composition: Emily Singleton, Teacher Stephen Fine
- Senior Piano Performance: Jonathan Reichenberger, Teacher Maria Gomez
- Senior String Performance: Sahana Shravan, Teacher Huifang Chen
- Young Artist Piano Performance: Christina Lai, Teacher Stijn De Cock/Read Gainsford
Congratulations also to the following, who placed as honorable mention or alternate:
- JR Composition: Albert Wang, Teacher Thomas McKinley
- YA Brass: Connor Holland, Teacher Christopher Moore
We are so proud of your hard work and accomplishment, and wish you all the best of luck as you prepare for the National Competition in March!
Lydia Blakemore
VP MTNA Competitive Events
2018 Florida MTNA Competition Winners
[Photos and bios found below list of winners]
JR Piano Winner: Madison Yan (also JR Chopin)
Teacher: Irena Kofman
JR String Winner: George Lawson
Teacher: Lev Gurevich
SR Piano Winner: Jonathan Reichenberger
Teacher: Maria Gomez
SR Chopin Prize: Shixuan Zhou
Teacher: Irena Kofman
SR String Winner: Sahana Shravan
Teacher: Huifang Chen
SR Wind Winner: Audrey Li
Teacher: Nora Garcia
YA Piano Winner: Christina Lai
Teacher: Stijn De Cock
YA String Winner: Josefina Guzman
Teacher: Shannon Thomas
YA Brass Winner: Connor Holland
Teacher: Christopher Moore
YA Wind Winner: Eric Stults
Teacher Geoffrey Deibel
YA Voice Winner: Joyce Camille Hernandez
Teacher: JoAnne Stephenson
Chamber Wind Winners: UCF Saxophone Quartet
Teacher: George Werumchuk
[Photos and bios found below list of winners]
JR Piano Winner: Madison Yan (also JR Chopin)
Teacher: Irena Kofman
JR String Winner: George Lawson
Teacher: Lev Gurevich
SR Piano Winner: Jonathan Reichenberger
Teacher: Maria Gomez
SR Chopin Prize: Shixuan Zhou
Teacher: Irena Kofman
SR String Winner: Sahana Shravan
Teacher: Huifang Chen
SR Wind Winner: Audrey Li
Teacher: Nora Garcia
YA Piano Winner: Christina Lai
Teacher: Stijn De Cock
YA String Winner: Josefina Guzman
Teacher: Shannon Thomas
YA Brass Winner: Connor Holland
Teacher: Christopher Moore
YA Wind Winner: Eric Stults
Teacher Geoffrey Deibel
YA Voice Winner: Joyce Camille Hernandez
Teacher: JoAnne Stephenson
Chamber Wind Winners: UCF Saxophone Quartet
Teacher: George Werumchuk
JR Piano Winner: Madison Yan (also JR Chopin)
Teacher: Irena Kofman
Madison Yan is a 10th grade student at Dreyfoos High School of the Arts, majoring in Piano. She started studying piano at the age of five. At age seven, Madison began studying with Mr. Phillip Evans and continued her studies with Dr. Irena Kofman in 2012. Since 2016, she started having piano lessons with Prof. Kevin P. Kenner. Since 2014.Madison has won numerous awards from local events, state, and international competitions. She has won the Florida Federation Music Club concerto competition four years in a row since 2014 and won the first place in senior division in 2017. She attained the 3rd place in Piano Concerto Competition (all ages) in 2016 International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival (Fort Collins, Colorado). She won Florida State Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition Junior Division, 1st Place in State 2016 and Intermediate Division in 2018. Her orchestra debut was in 2017 with Great Miami Youth Orchestra (GMYO). In February 2018, she played Beethoven Concerto No. 5 with Alhambra Orchestra as the Alhambra Concerto Competition (all instruments) winner. In addition, she is actively involved in local community events and plays piano for fundraiser or senior communities. She also performed at the Chopin Foundation recital in April and FFMC Junior Convention in May. 2018.
Teacher: Irena Kofman
Madison Yan is a 10th grade student at Dreyfoos High School of the Arts, majoring in Piano. She started studying piano at the age of five. At age seven, Madison began studying with Mr. Phillip Evans and continued her studies with Dr. Irena Kofman in 2012. Since 2016, she started having piano lessons with Prof. Kevin P. Kenner. Since 2014.Madison has won numerous awards from local events, state, and international competitions. She has won the Florida Federation Music Club concerto competition four years in a row since 2014 and won the first place in senior division in 2017. She attained the 3rd place in Piano Concerto Competition (all ages) in 2016 International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival (Fort Collins, Colorado). She won Florida State Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition Junior Division, 1st Place in State 2016 and Intermediate Division in 2018. Her orchestra debut was in 2017 with Great Miami Youth Orchestra (GMYO). In February 2018, she played Beethoven Concerto No. 5 with Alhambra Orchestra as the Alhambra Concerto Competition (all instruments) winner. In addition, she is actively involved in local community events and plays piano for fundraiser or senior communities. She also performed at the Chopin Foundation recital in April and FFMC Junior Convention in May. 2018.
SR Piano Winner: Jonathan Reichenberger
Teacher: Maria Gomez
Jonathan Reichenberger has been playing the piano since he was four years old, and since then, Jonathan has received numerous local, state, regional, and international awards. He was the first place winner of the 2012 FSMTA District VI Concerto Competition Senior Division. In March 2012, Jonathan was a winner of the International Young Musicians Festival which earned him a performance at the Carnegie Hall in New York. At the 2013 MTNA Southern Division Junior Piano Performance Competition in North Carolina, Jonathan was awarded Alternate. At the 2014 and 2015 MTNA Southern Division Junior Piano Competition, he was awarded Honorable Mention. In October 2014, Jonathan was the first place winner in the Louisiana International Piano Junior Competition. Also, Jonathan was the second place winner in the 2015 SEPF Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, as well as second place winner in the 2016 Lee University International Piano Competition. This past summer, he was awarded second place winner in the Oberlin Summer Piano Competition. Jonathan is a six-time MTNA Florida state winner since sixth grade, and he was a 2017 MTNA national finalist in the Senior Piano Competition.
Teacher: Maria Gomez
Jonathan Reichenberger has been playing the piano since he was four years old, and since then, Jonathan has received numerous local, state, regional, and international awards. He was the first place winner of the 2012 FSMTA District VI Concerto Competition Senior Division. In March 2012, Jonathan was a winner of the International Young Musicians Festival which earned him a performance at the Carnegie Hall in New York. At the 2013 MTNA Southern Division Junior Piano Performance Competition in North Carolina, Jonathan was awarded Alternate. At the 2014 and 2015 MTNA Southern Division Junior Piano Competition, he was awarded Honorable Mention. In October 2014, Jonathan was the first place winner in the Louisiana International Piano Junior Competition. Also, Jonathan was the second place winner in the 2015 SEPF Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, as well as second place winner in the 2016 Lee University International Piano Competition. This past summer, he was awarded second place winner in the Oberlin Summer Piano Competition. Jonathan is a six-time MTNA Florida state winner since sixth grade, and he was a 2017 MTNA national finalist in the Senior Piano Competition.
SR String Winner: Sahana Shravan
Teacher: Huifang Chen
Sahana is a resident of Boca Raton, FL and a senior at the Alexander W Dreyfoos School of the Arts (DSOA) in West Palm Beach, FL. Sahana started her violin studies at the age of 3 with Mr. Richard Coff, at the Suzuki Music Academy in Davie, FL. She currently studies with Ms.Huifang Chen in Coral Springs, FL. Sahana has also participated in master classes with Sergiu Schwartz, Daniel Andai, and Elmar Oliveira.
Sahana has won numerous concerto competitions. Sahana was a winner at the American Protégé Competition and was a solo performer at Carnegie Hall - Weill Hall in 2014. Sahana won 1st place at the District VI FSMTA Senior Strings Competition, held in March 2018. She received Honorable Mention at the 2018 New World Side by Side Concerto Competition in both 2017 and 2018. She won the Florida MTNA (Music Teachers National Association)Senior Strings Competition 2016, and she represented Florida at the Regional MTNA competition held in January 2017, where she was awarded Honorable Mention. Sahana was 1st place winner at the 2016 Greater Miami Youth Symphony (GMYS) Concerto Competition, the 2016 Alexander W Dreyfoos School of the Arts Concerto Competition, and the 2016 Florida Youth Symphony (FYO) Concerto Competition. She has been selected for the Florida Allstate Convention since 7th grade, and has been selected by audition to fill positions of leadership in the orchestra for many of those years. Sahana has been the concertmaster of the Greater Miami Youth Symphony since 2016, and she is a section leader and co-president of the A.W. Dreyfoos Philharmonic Orchestra. Since her freshman year, she has been the first violinist of the Piacevole String Quartet, performing with her peers at both school events and events around the South Florida area. She also co-founded and is co-concertmaster of the Apollo Symphony Chamber Orchestra, a student-run group that rehearses and performs works. For the past two summers, Sahana attended the Killington Music Festival summer program, in Killington, VT, where she committed to intense study of both solo and chamber works with other musicians her age.
Sahana enjoys volunteering for the non-profit organization Mind and Melody, reading, mentoring peers in mathematics through the Math Honor Society at DSOA, and exploring world music genre.Sahana aspires to conduct research to study the interconnected fields of music, medicine, and mathematics.
Teacher: Huifang Chen
Sahana is a resident of Boca Raton, FL and a senior at the Alexander W Dreyfoos School of the Arts (DSOA) in West Palm Beach, FL. Sahana started her violin studies at the age of 3 with Mr. Richard Coff, at the Suzuki Music Academy in Davie, FL. She currently studies with Ms.Huifang Chen in Coral Springs, FL. Sahana has also participated in master classes with Sergiu Schwartz, Daniel Andai, and Elmar Oliveira.
Sahana has won numerous concerto competitions. Sahana was a winner at the American Protégé Competition and was a solo performer at Carnegie Hall - Weill Hall in 2014. Sahana won 1st place at the District VI FSMTA Senior Strings Competition, held in March 2018. She received Honorable Mention at the 2018 New World Side by Side Concerto Competition in both 2017 and 2018. She won the Florida MTNA (Music Teachers National Association)Senior Strings Competition 2016, and she represented Florida at the Regional MTNA competition held in January 2017, where she was awarded Honorable Mention. Sahana was 1st place winner at the 2016 Greater Miami Youth Symphony (GMYS) Concerto Competition, the 2016 Alexander W Dreyfoos School of the Arts Concerto Competition, and the 2016 Florida Youth Symphony (FYO) Concerto Competition. She has been selected for the Florida Allstate Convention since 7th grade, and has been selected by audition to fill positions of leadership in the orchestra for many of those years. Sahana has been the concertmaster of the Greater Miami Youth Symphony since 2016, and she is a section leader and co-president of the A.W. Dreyfoos Philharmonic Orchestra. Since her freshman year, she has been the first violinist of the Piacevole String Quartet, performing with her peers at both school events and events around the South Florida area. She also co-founded and is co-concertmaster of the Apollo Symphony Chamber Orchestra, a student-run group that rehearses and performs works. For the past two summers, Sahana attended the Killington Music Festival summer program, in Killington, VT, where she committed to intense study of both solo and chamber works with other musicians her age.
Sahana enjoys volunteering for the non-profit organization Mind and Melody, reading, mentoring peers in mathematics through the Math Honor Society at DSOA, and exploring world music genre.Sahana aspires to conduct research to study the interconnected fields of music, medicine, and mathematics.
SR Wind Winner: Audrey Li
Teacher: Nora Garcia
Audrey Li is a hardworking high school freshman and fearless when it comes to fighting for what she wants to achieve. Music has always been a huge part in her life beginning from a very early age, but she also balances it with academics. In her free time, she enjoys a variety of extra-curricular activities at school such as robotics as well as hobbies at home such as fencing, swimming, and writing. No matter what road she decides to take in the future, she knows she will continue to play the flute.
Teacher: Nora Garcia
Audrey Li is a hardworking high school freshman and fearless when it comes to fighting for what she wants to achieve. Music has always been a huge part in her life beginning from a very early age, but she also balances it with academics. In her free time, she enjoys a variety of extra-curricular activities at school such as robotics as well as hobbies at home such as fencing, swimming, and writing. No matter what road she decides to take in the future, she knows she will continue to play the flute.
YA String Winner: Josefina Guzman
Teacher: Shannon Thomas
Born in Switzerland in 2004, George started the violin at the age of 6. Since moving to the U.S. in 2014, he has been taught by Lev Gurevich. He has been a member of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra since 2015 and participated on their 2017 European tour with performances in Vienna (Musikverein), Salzburg (Mozarteum) and Prague. This year, the orchestra performed at New York's Carnegie Hall and plan to tour China in 2019.
Teacher: Shannon Thomas
Born in Switzerland in 2004, George started the violin at the age of 6. Since moving to the U.S. in 2014, he has been taught by Lev Gurevich. He has been a member of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra since 2015 and participated on their 2017 European tour with performances in Vienna (Musikverein), Salzburg (Mozarteum) and Prague. This year, the orchestra performed at New York's Carnegie Hall and plan to tour China in 2019.
YA Brass Winner: Connor Holland
Teacher: Christopher Moore
A native of Fernandina Beach, Florida, Connor is an instrumental music education major at Florida State University, where he studies under Dr. Christopher Moore. Connor is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville, Florida. During that time he was a member of the Wind Symphony that performed at the Midwest Clinic and in Carnegie Hall. He was also a four year member of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra. Throughout high school he studied under Hunter Eberly, current principal trumpet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Connor has also studied with Scott Thornburg while attending Bay View Summer Music Institute in Petoskey, Michigan. While studying at FSU, he has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships; first place in the Bryan Goff Trumpet Competition, multiple International Trumpet Guild Scholarships, Second Place in the National Trumpet Competition trumpet ensemble division, and semifinalist in the National Trumpet Competition solo division. He has also performed with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.
Connor has a passion for community service. He is currently completing his student teaching at Fernandina Beach Middle School. He will graduate from FSU in December 2018 with a BME.
Teacher: Christopher Moore
A native of Fernandina Beach, Florida, Connor is an instrumental music education major at Florida State University, where he studies under Dr. Christopher Moore. Connor is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville, Florida. During that time he was a member of the Wind Symphony that performed at the Midwest Clinic and in Carnegie Hall. He was also a four year member of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra. Throughout high school he studied under Hunter Eberly, current principal trumpet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Connor has also studied with Scott Thornburg while attending Bay View Summer Music Institute in Petoskey, Michigan. While studying at FSU, he has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships; first place in the Bryan Goff Trumpet Competition, multiple International Trumpet Guild Scholarships, Second Place in the National Trumpet Competition trumpet ensemble division, and semifinalist in the National Trumpet Competition solo division. He has also performed with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.
Connor has a passion for community service. He is currently completing his student teaching at Fernandina Beach Middle School. He will graduate from FSU in December 2018 with a BME.
YA Wind Winner: Eric Stults
Teacher Geoffrey Deibel
Eric Stults is from Moore, Oklahoma. Eric has studied, been in masterclasses, and taken lessons with many great saxophonists including Jeffery Loeffert, Katherine Weintraub, Brian Gorrell, Heath Jones, Jonathon Nichol, Geoffrey Deibel, Vincent David, Zach Shemon, Stephen Page, David Dees, Joe Girad, Project Fusion saxophone quartet, Nathan Nabb, Chris Creviston, Joe Luloff . Eric has been in the OSU wind ensemble, OSU Jazz Orchestra, the OSU saxophone octet, the Knoblock Project Saxophone Quartet, the Indarra Saxophone quartet, and the Pyrrhic Saxophone Quartet. Eric has played in a number of conferences and competitions throughout his career including the American Single Reed summit, the Midwest Clinic, the Navy band saxophone symposium conference, the Oklahoma Music Educators association, the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial quartet competition finals, the regional North American Saxophone Alliance conference, and the Music Teachers National Association Chamber music competition finals.
Teacher Geoffrey Deibel
Eric Stults is from Moore, Oklahoma. Eric has studied, been in masterclasses, and taken lessons with many great saxophonists including Jeffery Loeffert, Katherine Weintraub, Brian Gorrell, Heath Jones, Jonathon Nichol, Geoffrey Deibel, Vincent David, Zach Shemon, Stephen Page, David Dees, Joe Girad, Project Fusion saxophone quartet, Nathan Nabb, Chris Creviston, Joe Luloff . Eric has been in the OSU wind ensemble, OSU Jazz Orchestra, the OSU saxophone octet, the Knoblock Project Saxophone Quartet, the Indarra Saxophone quartet, and the Pyrrhic Saxophone Quartet. Eric has played in a number of conferences and competitions throughout his career including the American Single Reed summit, the Midwest Clinic, the Navy band saxophone symposium conference, the Oklahoma Music Educators association, the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial quartet competition finals, the regional North American Saxophone Alliance conference, and the Music Teachers National Association Chamber music competition finals.
YA Voice Winner: Joyce Camille Hernandez
Teacher: JoAnne Stephenson
Joyce Camille Hernandez, 20, is a resident of Lake Mary, FL and a junior at University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, FL. She is a soprano vocalist and has been studying with Dr. JoAnne Stephenson for two years. She is a music education major with a focus in choral teaching as well as a vocal performance major. She is a member of UCF’s CNAfME chapter and president of UCF’s ACDA chapter. She has performed as Ciesca in “Gianni Schicchi” and “Buoso’s Ghost” in UCF’s Op-Shop. Joyce has received her Associate of Arts degree from Seminole State College in December 2016. She was a recipient of the Laurel Sue Ellmore Music Scholarship in 2015. Previous competitions include receiving second place in Florida’s NATS Competition in the “Lower Second Year College Musical Theatre Women” category and runner-up/alternative in Florida’s MTNA YA Voice Competition in 2017. Along with being involved in competitions and choirs at UCF, Joyce is a kids ministry intern at Faith Assembly of God as well as a voice and piano instructor at Lochwood Academy for the Performing Arts in Sanford, FL. She would like to thank everyone for their love and support throughout her musical career and a special thank you to Dr. Stephenson for providing her with guidance and support to shape her into the musician she is today.
Teacher: JoAnne Stephenson
Joyce Camille Hernandez, 20, is a resident of Lake Mary, FL and a junior at University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, FL. She is a soprano vocalist and has been studying with Dr. JoAnne Stephenson for two years. She is a music education major with a focus in choral teaching as well as a vocal performance major. She is a member of UCF’s CNAfME chapter and president of UCF’s ACDA chapter. She has performed as Ciesca in “Gianni Schicchi” and “Buoso’s Ghost” in UCF’s Op-Shop. Joyce has received her Associate of Arts degree from Seminole State College in December 2016. She was a recipient of the Laurel Sue Ellmore Music Scholarship in 2015. Previous competitions include receiving second place in Florida’s NATS Competition in the “Lower Second Year College Musical Theatre Women” category and runner-up/alternative in Florida’s MTNA YA Voice Competition in 2017. Along with being involved in competitions and choirs at UCF, Joyce is a kids ministry intern at Faith Assembly of God as well as a voice and piano instructor at Lochwood Academy for the Performing Arts in Sanford, FL. She would like to thank everyone for their love and support throughout her musical career and a special thank you to Dr. Stephenson for providing her with guidance and support to shape her into the musician she is today.
Chamber Wind Winners: UCF Saxophone Quartet
Teacher: George Werumchuk
The Knights Saxophone Quartet comprise of members, Jade Deatherage, Najee Lee, Noah Mosca, and Dylan Hannan. They have been enjoying playing music together for three years under the instruction of UCF Saxophone Professor, George Weremchuk. In addition to this quartet, these members also perform in a variety of ensembles, including the UCF Wind Ensemble, UCF Symphony Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, jazz combo, and the UCF Flying Horse Big Band.
Teacher: George Werumchuk
The Knights Saxophone Quartet comprise of members, Jade Deatherage, Najee Lee, Noah Mosca, and Dylan Hannan. They have been enjoying playing music together for three years under the instruction of UCF Saxophone Professor, George Weremchuk. In addition to this quartet, these members also perform in a variety of ensembles, including the UCF Wind Ensemble, UCF Symphony Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, jazz combo, and the UCF Flying Horse Big Band.