USD Music Students Earn Top Prizes
In the South Dakota Music Teacher Association competition, Eldon Warner, a junior vocal performance major, received 1st place in the junior/senior men and women collegiate voice II division. Emily Vidler, a senior vocal performance major, received 2nd place. Kevin Phillips, a senior vocal performance and music education major, received honorable mention. In the freshman and sophomore division, Abby Beach, a music education major, received 2nd place. Bailey Quade, a vocal performance major, was an honorable mention.
Senior music education major Benjamin O’Bryan received 1st place in collegiate composition. Freshman music education major Steven Bray received second place in collegiate woodwind. Sophomore Katelyn Strock and freshman Kacie Cox were honorable mentions in woodwind. Sophomore piano performance major Elizabeth Heikens received 2nd place in collegiate piano.
In the Music Teachers National Association contest, Ana Melissa Oliveira, a graduate piano student, received 1st place in the young artist in piano competition. Nicole Pierson, a music education major, received 1st place in young artist in woodwind. In the senior piano division, piano performance major Nicole Pierson received 2nd place.
The singers all study with Tracelyn Gesteland. Paul Lombardi teaches composition. The woodwinds are clarinet players studying with Luis Viquez. Susan Keith Gray and Alessandra Feris teach piano.
The 1st place winners in the state MTNA competitions will advance to the West Central regional division at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, in January.
