UC Foundation Association Professor, Dr. Sin-Hsing Tsai, has arranged for the top two winners of the 2010 Piano Arts Competition to present a recital on Sunday, June 20, at 3 p.m. in the UTC Cadek Recital Hall. Of the 24 students who competed from Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, Dean-Antonio Magat is the winner of the middle school category, and Isaac Hinchman is the high school category winner. The concert by these two talented students is free and open to the general public.
These two young men have put together an impressive program including pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Ginastera, and Gershwin.
Magat, 14, has just finished eighth grade at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School. He has been studying piano for nine and a half years, starting lessons at age four. He is currently a student at the home studio of Ann Pope, with who he has studied for four years. He has participated for the past three years in the local and state Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA) auditions, achieving runner-up and honorable mention in the elementary division in 2008 and 2009 state competitions, respectively.
Hinchman, 17, recently earned his Guild High School Diploma and won awards in three categories at the state National Federation of Music Clubs Festival. He was also selected as a contestant in the upcoming Lee University Piano competition. Last summer, Hinchman attended Brevard Music Camp in North Carolina and was awarded a first place scholarship by the National Music Teacher Association. He has played in the Guild and the National Music Teacher association auditions on the local and state levels, always earning superior or superior plus ratings. In 2008, Hinchman and his sister Abigail won first place in the Junior High Piano Ensemble at the TMTA conference. Hinchman began his piano study eight years ago under Mandy Boerma and has studied with Tammy Benson at Ridgedale School of Fine Arts since February 2006.
In its 14th year, the Annual UTC Piano Arts Competition has become the source of motivation and inspiration for countless piano students from the Southeastern States. Held in the beautiful Roland Hayes Concert Hall of UTC Fine Arts Center, the Piano Arts Competition is open to students from middle school and high school. Cash prizes are awarded to the top three performers in each category and college scholarships are offered to graduating seniors.
Each contestant receives a Certificate of Participation and comments from the panel of judges that includes UTC piano faculty. This event has become a spring festival where students, parents, teachers and the community can attend and enjoy a full day of music provided by our outstanding young pianists.
The next Piano Arts Competition will be held on April 2, 2011, in the UTC Fine Arts Center.
For more information, please contact the UTC Music Department at 423-425-4601 or visit our website.
