Five musicians compete at All-State Piano Auditions

Piano students of Ruth Harris include (l-r) Christina Albertson, Troy Colvin, Ian Coe, Emily Beggs, and Genevieve Coe.

Five piano students from the studio of Ruth E. Harris competed in the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) All-State Piano Auditions held Saturday, December 1. Mercer University was the host for the event for a total of 240 statewide piano students, which included 27 duet teams. Performances were held at the McCorkle Music Hall on the Mercer campus.

Students competed in both duet and solo piano from sixth through twelfth grades, with the top students being selected for performance at the GMEA In-Service Annual Conference. The conference is to be held in Savannah on January 24, 25, and 26, 2008.

All students from Miss Harris' studio received high placements, with four being selected for the Savannah Conference. Students also received extensive comment sheets for their work.

The duet team of Ian and Genevieve Coe was selected for the four-hand winners recital for Friday, January 25. They performed the Hungarian Dance, No. 7 from Book 2, of Johannes Brahms. The comments of the judge, Katherine Morris, private piano teacher from Carrollton, indicated that their immense difficulty with numerous tempi and rhythms was well "pulled of." Ian is a senior at Washington- Wilkes Comprehensive High School and Genevieve is in the tenth grade, being home-schooled by their parents, Doctors Elizabeth and Stan Coe. This is the seventh year that Ian has been an All-State winner, performing in Savannah, and the sixth year for Genevieve.

A second duet team of Troy Colvard and Christina Albertson was selected for the four-hand Master Class for Saturday, January 26. Troy and Christina performed the third and Presto molto movement of Mozart's Sonata in B-flatMajor, K. 358.The judge commented on their "great tempo, lots of energy, and very commanding " performance. Troy is a senior at Washington- Wilkes Comprehensive High School and the son of Stacey and Gregory Colvard. Christina is in the eleventh grade at W-WHS and the daughter of Daphne and Steve Albertson. Troy is an All-State winner for the third time, and Christina for the fifth.

Three students competed in solo piano as well. Christina place second alternate, or "Top Seven" in grade 11, with her performance of Toccata of Aram Khachaturian. Dr. Kevin Hampton, judge for this grade and professor of piano from Armstrong Atlanta State University, commented on the "rhythmic drive" which Christina "employed and sustained" in this piece.

Emily Beggs, a seventh grader from Lincoln County Middle School, placed fifth alternate, or "Top Ten" with her Tarantella, Op. 77, No. 6, of Moritz Moszkowski. Emily's judge, Dr. Tom Pearsall, professor of piano from Georgia Southern University, made constructive remarks about Emily's "excellent dynamic contrasts and some bold, confident,assertive playing." Emily is the daughter of Elaine and Mike Beggs of Lincolnton. She has placed as All-State winner for the second year.

Genevieve Coe performed Los Bebedores De Manzanilla, Op. 47, No. 4, from the second series of Cuentos De Espagne by Joaquin Turina. Genevieve received honorable mention or "Top Fourteen" in the tenth grade category. Her judge, also Dr. Pearsall, wrote positively about her "spirit and energy and some very solid, musical playing of a difficultwork."

Christina, Emily, and Genevieve could be moved up to "performance status" in Savannah in the event of cancellations.

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