Each year in early November, Massachusetts music students prepare their repertoire to enter the MTNA Performance Competition. Each state holds their own competition to select winners to advance to the Division Competition and, ultimately, the National Competition. Massachusetts has been well represented in the Eastern Division and the National Competition over the years. We are very proud of our talented young musicians and their dedicated teachers. The purpose of the MTNA Performance Competition is to provide educational experiences for students and teachers and to recognize exceptionally talented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence. Upon entering their work into the competition, students receive written comments from three judges. This year, the state judges for the piano division were Heeyeon Chi, Sivan Etedgee, David Evenson, Lois Leventhal, Eri Nakamura, and Alexander Poliykov; and the state judges for the string division were Bonnie Black, Laura Bossert, and Patrice Jackson.

2019 Massachusetts MTNA Performance Competition Winners

Junior Piano Competition:

Winner: Andrew Gu, student of Helen Jung, Alexander Korsantia, and Hitomi Koyama Alternate: Eriz Zhang, student of Helena Vesterman Honorable Mention: Emily Zhou, student of Niva Fried Honorable Mention: Victoria Park, student of Jeanie Lee and Ramon Rivera

Senior Piano Competition:

Winner: Natalie Zhang, student of Michael Lewin Alternate: Justin Wang, student of Helena Vesterman Honorable Mention: Gaeun Lee, student of Niva Fried Honorable Mention: Emma Fu, student of Mary Siciliano Honorable Mention: Sofia Marina, student of Leonard Richter

Young Artist Piano Competition:

Winner: Lior David, student of Alan Chow Alternate: Paulius Pancekauska, student of Spencer Myer

Junior String Competition:

Winner: Eunice Park, violin, student of Anait Arutunian Alternate: Aika Oki, violin, student of Fudeko Cohler

Senior String Competition:

Winner: Sophia Xie, violin, student of Fudeko Cohler Alternate: Zoey Long, viola, student of Vera Rubin