Competition Winners Perform at NCKP.

National winners of the 2003 MTNA piano competitions performed in a recital August 7, 2003, at the opening of the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) at the Hyatt Regency in Oak Brook, Illinois.

The performers were Alexander Lue, winner of the MTNA Junior High School Piano Performance Competition, sponsored by Baldwin Piano & Organ Company; Sergiy Komirenko, winner of the MTNA High School Piano Performance Competition, sponsored by Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division; and Stephen Beus, winner of the MTNA Collegiate Artist Piano Performance Competition, sponsored by Steinway & Sons.

Lue, a resident of Richardson, Texas, studies piano with Samuel Wong. Komirenko, a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, studies with John Ruggero. Beus, a resident of Othello, Washington, studies with Leonard Richter.

"This recital symbolizes the strong partnership between MTNA and NCKP," says Gary L. Ingle, MTNA executive director and emcee of the recital. "Both groups are committed to advancing the music teaching profession. Although the focus and scope of our respective organizations are different--MTNA is for music teachers of all disciplines, NCKP is for keyboard teacher--our desires are the same. We want music teachers to be successful as pedagogues and as mentors to their students. A recital featuring these fine students is indicative of what is possible when talented students study with talented, dedicated teachers."

This performance marked the second Time MTNB2s competition winners have performed for this conference, the first being in August 2001.