By Shelley Cole Parker
This year the Louisiana Music Teachers Association’s annual Torgrimson/Swanzy Competition for Outstanding Students looked a little different than it has in the past.
Louisiana State University’s School of Music was unable to host, so the First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge allowed the use of their facilities for the event which was held on June 8th.
Piano students from all over the state competed with two songs from memory typically in different musical styles played in “recital” fashion with parents, teachers and onlookers in the room. A judge awards 1st-3rd place awards for each section and often adds in Honorable Mention(s) for stand out performances that did not place.
Five Ruston area students received awards as follows:
Prep B-1
Honorable Mention – Esther Allen
Student of Jeanne Patterson
Prep B-2
1st place – Krystal Jeong
Student of Steele Moegle
Level I-1
1st place – Lucas Chen
3rd place – Zoey Wang
Both students of Steele Moegle
Level III-2
1st place – Preston Parker
Student of Denise Cox
