Winners
MTNA Competitive Events Winners
Congratulations to the winners of Florida's 2020 MTNA state competitions! Thank you to all 71 participants in this year’s online competitions, and we are also grateful to our wonderful teachers, adjudicators, and parents. We wish all of the winners the very best in the Southern Division competitions and look forward to next year’s state competitions. Thank you all for contributing to the success of this year’s event!
Adam Booher
FSMTA VP for MTNA Competitive Events
Adam Booher
FSMTA VP for MTNA Competitive Events
Young Artist Brass:
Winner: Eric Rohwedder
Orlando, FL
Eric Rohwedder is a currently a senior at the University of Central Florida studying both Music Education and Music Performance. Eric has studied trumpet with Dr. Jesse Cook, and has participated in several ensembles at UCF, including the UCF Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and the Flying Horse Big Band. He was recently featured in an original composition named “Something Motion” written for unaccompanied trumpet and recently studied conducting at a study abroad program held in Thailand.
Winner: Eric Rohwedder
Orlando, FL
Eric Rohwedder is a currently a senior at the University of Central Florida studying both Music Education and Music Performance. Eric has studied trumpet with Dr. Jesse Cook, and has participated in several ensembles at UCF, including the UCF Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and the Flying Horse Big Band. He was recently featured in an original composition named “Something Motion” written for unaccompanied trumpet and recently studied conducting at a study abroad program held in Thailand.
Young Artist Piano:
Winner: Jair Zacarias
Fort Myers, FL
Jair Zacarias, an 19-year-old pianist was born in Trujillo, Peru. At age 13 he was accepted into the Pre-college Program of the National Conservatory of Music in Lima, Peru. There he studied with Professor Katia Palacios for five years and performed frequently in recitals and festivals in his home country. Jair received a full scholarship to attend Florida Gulf Coast University, where he currently studies with Dr. Michael Baron. He is the winner of several competitions.
Winner: Jair Zacarias
Fort Myers, FL
Jair Zacarias, an 19-year-old pianist was born in Trujillo, Peru. At age 13 he was accepted into the Pre-college Program of the National Conservatory of Music in Lima, Peru. There he studied with Professor Katia Palacios for five years and performed frequently in recitals and festivals in his home country. Jair received a full scholarship to attend Florida Gulf Coast University, where he currently studies with Dr. Michael Baron. He is the winner of several competitions.
Young Artist Strings:
Winner: Cassia Drake
Naples, FL
Cassia Drake, a native of Southwest Florida, began studying the violin at age 4, switching to viola at age 12 under the guidance of John T. Posadas. She gave her solo debut with the Artis-Naples Orchestra at age 14, and has since appeared with the Sarasota Music Festival Orchestra, SouthWest Florida Symphony, and the Colburn Orchestra. A passionate chamber musician, Ms. Drake has performed with the Colburn Chamber Music Society and the Mainly Mozart concert series, collaborating with artists such as Shmuel Ashkenasi, Ettore Causa, Clive Greensmith, and Elisso Virsaladze. As a fourth-year Colburn Teaching Fellow, she maintains an active teaching studio, giving lessons to students in the Jumpstart Young Musicians Program. Ms. Drake is a Master of Music candidate at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, where she studies with Paul Coletti.
Winner: Cassia Drake
Naples, FL
Cassia Drake, a native of Southwest Florida, began studying the violin at age 4, switching to viola at age 12 under the guidance of John T. Posadas. She gave her solo debut with the Artis-Naples Orchestra at age 14, and has since appeared with the Sarasota Music Festival Orchestra, SouthWest Florida Symphony, and the Colburn Orchestra. A passionate chamber musician, Ms. Drake has performed with the Colburn Chamber Music Society and the Mainly Mozart concert series, collaborating with artists such as Shmuel Ashkenasi, Ettore Causa, Clive Greensmith, and Elisso Virsaladze. As a fourth-year Colburn Teaching Fellow, she maintains an active teaching studio, giving lessons to students in the Jumpstart Young Musicians Program. Ms. Drake is a Master of Music candidate at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, where she studies with Paul Coletti.
Young Artist Voice:
Representative: Paula Alva Garcia
Fort Myers, FL
Representative: Paula Alva Garcia
Fort Myers, FL
Young Artist Woodwinds:
Winner: Joshua Hellberg
Fort Meyers, FL
Winner: Joshua Hellberg
Fort Meyers, FL
Senior Composition:
Winner: Frazar P. Henry
Bonita Springs, FL
Winner: Frazar P. Henry
Bonita Springs, FL
Senior Piano and Senior Chopin Prize:
Winner: Madison Yan
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Madison Yan currently studies with Dr. Irena Kofman and Professor Kevin Kenner under the Advanced Piano Preparatory program at the Frost School of Music. As a second-year National Chopin Scholarship Recipient, she has attained top prizes in several international competitions, including first prize in the William Knabe International Piano Competition and third prize at the International Keyboard Odyssiad®. She received consecutive top prizes in the highest divisions of Florida Federation of Music Clubs, the Florida State Music Teachers Association, and the Music Teacher’s National Association. Her orchestra debut was in 2017 with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony.
Winner: Madison Yan
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Madison Yan currently studies with Dr. Irena Kofman and Professor Kevin Kenner under the Advanced Piano Preparatory program at the Frost School of Music. As a second-year National Chopin Scholarship Recipient, she has attained top prizes in several international competitions, including first prize in the William Knabe International Piano Competition and third prize at the International Keyboard Odyssiad®. She received consecutive top prizes in the highest divisions of Florida Federation of Music Clubs, the Florida State Music Teachers Association, and the Music Teacher’s National Association. Her orchestra debut was in 2017 with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony.
Senior Strings:
Winner: Sophia Molina
Coral Gables, FL
Sophia Molina is a violinist from Miami, Florida who started her musical journey at the age of 4. Throughout the past years, she has garnered many prizes and recognitions, and has gotten the opportunity to perform as a soloist with several orchestras.
In addition to her solo and orchestra performances, she is also a founding member of the Superpower of M.E. (music Education), a local non-profit that provides instruments and music scholarships for local students.
Winner: Sophia Molina
Coral Gables, FL
Sophia Molina is a violinist from Miami, Florida who started her musical journey at the age of 4. Throughout the past years, she has garnered many prizes and recognitions, and has gotten the opportunity to perform as a soloist with several orchestras.
In addition to her solo and orchestra performances, she is also a founding member of the Superpower of M.E. (music Education), a local non-profit that provides instruments and music scholarships for local students.
Senior Voice:
Winner: Nicole DiPasquale
Temple Terrace, FL
Nicole DiPasquale studies voice as a soprano with Dr. Jonathan Bassett performing in recitals and as guest soloist with Florida College and Tampa City Ballet. Nicole continues to grow as an artist entering competitions at the local, regional, national, and international levels. She has participated in university masterclasses, San Francisco Conservatory’s Gilbert and Sullivan Workshop, AAMS Music Institute of Tampere, Finland, and was a guest student of Rhoslyn Jones for the Summer of 2020.
Winner: Nicole DiPasquale
Temple Terrace, FL
Nicole DiPasquale studies voice as a soprano with Dr. Jonathan Bassett performing in recitals and as guest soloist with Florida College and Tampa City Ballet. Nicole continues to grow as an artist entering competitions at the local, regional, national, and international levels. She has participated in university masterclasses, San Francisco Conservatory’s Gilbert and Sullivan Workshop, AAMS Music Institute of Tampere, Finland, and was a guest student of Rhoslyn Jones for the Summer of 2020.
Senior Woodwinds:
Representative: Aidan Bai
Tampa, FL
Aidan Bai, a saxophonist and pianist, has been a part of many honor ensembles, including the Florida All-State Band, All-State Orchestra, and Bay Area Youth Winds. He was the Junior Woodwind Representative for Florida in last year’s MTNA Competition. Alongside playing music, Aidan currently serves as librarian for his school’s band and Tri-M Honor Society and is a wind band literature enthusiast.
Representative: Aidan Bai
Tampa, FL
Aidan Bai, a saxophonist and pianist, has been a part of many honor ensembles, including the Florida All-State Band, All-State Orchestra, and Bay Area Youth Winds. He was the Junior Woodwind Representative for Florida in last year’s MTNA Competition. Alongside playing music, Aidan currently serves as librarian for his school’s band and Tri-M Honor Society and is a wind band literature enthusiast.
Junior Composition:
Winner: Elizabeth Deinhardt
Orlando, FL
Elizabeth “Summer” Deinhardt goes by her middle name. She is 13 years old and in 8th grade at Howard Middle School in Orlando. Summer has been playing piano since she was 7 years old and has been in Chorus since 6th grade. She has a great passion for music and has received many awards as a pianist and singer. While this is her first attempt at the composition competition, Summer has been writing lyrics since she was 11 years old. With the help of her incredible teacher, Mrs. Jones, she has been able to create the music for her lyrics.
Winner: Elizabeth Deinhardt
Orlando, FL
Elizabeth “Summer” Deinhardt goes by her middle name. She is 13 years old and in 8th grade at Howard Middle School in Orlando. Summer has been playing piano since she was 7 years old and has been in Chorus since 6th grade. She has a great passion for music and has received many awards as a pianist and singer. While this is her first attempt at the composition competition, Summer has been writing lyrics since she was 11 years old. With the help of her incredible teacher, Mrs. Jones, she has been able to create the music for her lyrics.
Junior Piano and Junior Chopin Prize:
Winner: Matthew Phan
Jacksonville, FL
Valedictorian of his eighth grade class, Matthew Phan is a First Honors student at Bishop Kenny High School and an accomplished young pianist. Matthew’s formal instruction commenced at the age of six with Mary Lou Krosnick, and have continued to the present day. He has won first place at numerous competitions, such as the Florida State Music Teachers Association concerto competition, events held by the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, the Steinway Junior Piano Competition, and the Friday Musicale Outstanding Young Pianists Competition. Perhaps Matthew’s greatest honor was his two invitations to perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In addition, Matthew is the Principal Pianist of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and plays extensively for his school, church, and senior centers.
Winner: Matthew Phan
Jacksonville, FL
Valedictorian of his eighth grade class, Matthew Phan is a First Honors student at Bishop Kenny High School and an accomplished young pianist. Matthew’s formal instruction commenced at the age of six with Mary Lou Krosnick, and have continued to the present day. He has won first place at numerous competitions, such as the Florida State Music Teachers Association concerto competition, events held by the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, the Steinway Junior Piano Competition, and the Friday Musicale Outstanding Young Pianists Competition. Perhaps Matthew’s greatest honor was his two invitations to perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In addition, Matthew is the Principal Pianist of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and plays extensively for his school, church, and senior centers.
Junior Strings:
Winner: Leila Warren
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Leila Warren 11, made her debut soloing with the UNF Orchestra in October 2019. She was chosen as the youngest ever finalist of the Hilton Head Youth Concerto Competition in February 2020. A student of Sonja Foster of Amelia Island, FL, Leila has performed solo and chamber concerts all over north Florida and has participated in Master Classes with Kurt Sassmanshaus, Stefan Jackiw, the Dover Quartet, the Vega Quartet and Joe Deninzon for the 2020 ASTA National Conference. She loves to dance ballet and Flamenco, and enjoys acting and reading.
Winner: Leila Warren
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Leila Warren 11, made her debut soloing with the UNF Orchestra in October 2019. She was chosen as the youngest ever finalist of the Hilton Head Youth Concerto Competition in February 2020. A student of Sonja Foster of Amelia Island, FL, Leila has performed solo and chamber concerts all over north Florida and has participated in Master Classes with Kurt Sassmanshaus, Stefan Jackiw, the Dover Quartet, the Vega Quartet and Joe Deninzon for the 2020 ASTA National Conference. She loves to dance ballet and Flamenco, and enjoys acting and reading.
Community Service Awards Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the FSMTA Community Service Awards for 9th and 12th Graders!
These awards are given in recognition of student's leadership, achievements, and service to the community in the field of music. The FSMTA would like to thank all participants and their instructors, as well as the panel of judges for their efforts and support!
Anastasiya Naplekova
VP for FSMTA Competitive Events
Congratulations to the winners of the FSMTA Community Service Awards for 9th and 12th Graders!
These awards are given in recognition of student's leadership, achievements, and service to the community in the field of music. The FSMTA would like to thank all participants and their instructors, as well as the panel of judges for their efforts and support!
Anastasiya Naplekova
VP for FSMTA Competitive Events
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Winner of the Local and District Presidents Community Service Award for Ninth Graders is McKayla Ro (Gainesville, FL)
McKayla Ro is a ninth grader at Buchholz High School. She has had a passion for music since she was eight years old, when she performed piano at Carnegie Hall as a silver- medalist winner of the American Association for Development of the Gifted and Talented Competition. She later went on to perform at Carnegie Hall again and won various piano competitions, such as the FSMTA state solo and concerto competitions. McKayla is active in community service, including tutoring math at her school, volunteering at the Florida Natural History Museum, and taking part in various music activities, such as playing flute in church band and at nursing homes. Through exposure to varieties of music, including classical, pop, and hip-hop, she developed an deeper appreciation for music, which was was able to connect her with her grandfather who resided in a nursing home thousands of miles away. McKayla is an active member of the Buchholz Math Team and various clubs, including debate and creative writing. Most of all, she enjoys curling up with a nice book while listening to classical music playing softly in the background. |
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Winner of the FSMTA COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD FOR TWELFTH GRADERS is Tri Nguyen (Sarasota, FL)
From dragon dancing to martial arts to modern dance to music, I love to volunteer and share everything to the community with a passion. At my local temples, I enjoy performing dancing and martial arts--complete with the rhythmic drum, gong, and other instruments performances--with my team every year for Chinese New Year. Last year, I hosted the Arts Festival at Pine View in order to spread the entertaining culture of music. It was a great success with lots of performers and audience members. In music, I have played both Piano and Alto Saxophone in classical and jazz settings. For piano, I am the Vice President of the Concert Crew at my school, where we practice chamber music to play at nursing home recitals. I was also the founder of the Musical Performance Circle, a club that has recitals at lunch for students at our school to enjoy. For alto saxophone, I played in the wind ensemble for my first two years of high school and now am in jazz band for the last two. This year, I am playing both piano and alto saxophone in jazz band. Amongst all this, I love to audition for different events like the Variety Show and the Boys State Talent Show and to play in Solo & Ensemble and Festival. |
Announcing FL MTNA 2020 National Competitors
Dear FSMTA Members,
Congratulations to all of Florida's MTNA national competition finalists! We are very proud of our state's outstanding students, and we wish the following Florida representatives the very best at the MTNA national competitions in Chicago in March!
National Finalists from Florida:
The chamber music finals will take place at the 2020 MTNA National Conference in Chicago on Saturday, March 21, and the senior performance finals will take place on Sunday, March 22. Best wishes to Emily, Wooldjina, and Trio Nobile!
Best,
Adam Booher
FSMTA Vice President of MTNA Competitions
Dear FSMTA Members,
Congratulations to all of Florida's MTNA national competition finalists! We are very proud of our state's outstanding students, and we wish the following Florida representatives the very best at the MTNA national competitions in Chicago in March!
National Finalists from Florida:
- Senior Composition--Emily Singleton, student of Stephen Fine
- Senior Voice--Wooldjina Present, student of Jennifer Tipton
- Young Artist String Ensemble--Trio Nobile (Florida State University), students of Read Gainsford
- Ensemble Members: Christina Lai, Pedro Maia, and Cheuk Yan Leung
The chamber music finals will take place at the 2020 MTNA National Conference in Chicago on Saturday, March 21, and the senior performance finals will take place on Sunday, March 22. Best wishes to Emily, Wooldjina, and Trio Nobile!
Best,
Adam Booher
FSMTA Vice President of MTNA Competitions
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