Participating in the national piano-Playing Auditions are (from left, back row) Emily Elston, Katie Lewis, Ryan Pattat and Tacy Schwartz; (seated, from left) Katie Dedmon and Kaitlyn Schwarz. Not pictured are Katie Hopper and Hannah Conway.

Local Pianists Participate in National Auditions

Eight local piano pupils, from the studios of Jane Blackburn and Rachel Conway, have registered as candidates for membership in the National Fraternity of Student Musicians. The organization is sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers, Teacher Division of the American College of Musicians, of which Blackburn and Conway are members.

The young pianists will perform in the National Piano-Playing Auditions Saturday, May 13, at First Presbyterian Church. Each will strive for Pledge, Local, District, Hobbyist, Duet, Ensemble, State, National or International honors. The American College of Musicians will evaluate the students’ performances based on their presentation of baroque, classic, romantic and modern works. Students will perform in the presence of a professional adjudicator chosen by the national organization who will examine their repertoire. This year’s adjudicator is Faye Edwards of Jackson, Tenn.

Those auditioning are Hannah Conway, Katie Dedmon, Emily Elston, Katie Hopper, Katie Lewis, Ryan Pattat, Tacy Schwartz and Kaitlyn Schwarz.

First published May 12, 2006