Twenty-two Music Students Score Nations Best in MENC: The National Association for Music Educations 2004 Call for Original Student Compositions

Performances of the Selected Student Compositions to Highlight MENCs 59th National Biennial Conference

Reston, VA (PRWEB) February 7, 2004 --MENC: The National Association for Music Education is showcasing twenty-two compositions by elementary-through-university-level students from across the United States through its 2004 call for Original Student Compositions. Selected from four categories including piano, solo (instrumental or vocal), small ensemble (instrumental or vocal), and large ensemble (band, orchestra, or chorus), the musical masterpieces will be presented by these accomplished students during the Young Composer Concerts at MENCs 59th National Biennial In-Service Conference in Minneapolis, MN, April 14-18, 2004.

Established in 1990, MENCs nationwide call for Original Student Compositions exists to recognize talented young composers. These exceptional student composers and their musical creations are showcased before professional music educators at special conference performances.

Every other year, MENC selects compositions that are the best representative works from its six divisions (Eastern, North Central, Northwest, Southern, Southwestern, and Western) in the elementary/middle school, high school, and undergraduate/graduate levels. Applicants submit original musical scores and accompanying audio recording of the works, not to exceed five minutes, along with their résumés and written application forms for review by a national committee.

Many of this years winning compositions will be heard by an audience of thousands of music educators (MENC anticipates more than 5,000 conference attendees) at the Young Composers Concerts, which will take place in the Minneapolis Convention Center Saturday, April 17, 2004. Performances featuring band and orchestral works are scheduled for 12:15 and those featuring choral compositions at 2:30. Young Composers Concerts are open to the public.

For more information, call MENC Student Programs Manager Rosemary Reninger at 1-800-336-3768 ext. 317.

Works from the following students were selected to be performed at the conference:

Eight students representing MENCs Eastern Division: Charley Liu of R.C. Murphy Junior High School, Roswell, Georgia; Ashley Kirby of Maurice J. McDonough High School, Pomfret, Maryland; Julian Cartwright of Summit High School, Summit, New Jersey; Brad Ciechomski of the University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire; Benjamin Barshai of Wallenpaupack Area Middle School, Hawley, Pennsylvania; Loren Loiacono of Ward Melville High School, E. Setauket, New York; Allie Homziak of Champlain Elementary School, Burlington, Vermont; and Christopher Ziemba of Williamsville East High School, East Amherst, New York.

Four students representing MENCs North Central Division: Cheryl Parkes of DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois; Justen Flowers of Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan; Nicholas Mroczek of University of Minneapolis, Duluth, Minnesota; and David A. Beytas of Beachwood Middle School, Beachwood, Ohio.

Three students representing MENCs Southern Division: Sarah Gibson of Centennial High School, Roswell, Georgia; Maria Parrini of Mitchell Road Elementary School, Greenville, South Carolina; and Joshua Stubbs of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, West Virginia.

Two students representing MENCs Northwestern Division: Ana Marie Peterlin of Monroe Catholic School, Fairbanks, Alaska; and Lucas Carrier of Billings Central Catholic High School, Billings, Montana.

Two students representing MENCs Western Division: Douglas Bell of Borel Middle School, San Mateo, California; and Matthew Bryan of Blue Ridge High School, Lakeside, Arizona.

Three students representing MENCs Southwestern Division: LaVell Thompson, Jr. of the University of Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri; Tricia Filppini of Baylor University, Waco, Texas; and Colin Sorgi of MacArthur High School, San Antonio, Texas.

For more information, call 1-800-336-3768, or visit www.menc.org.

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the worlds largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 100,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENCs activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.

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