Saxophone Studio Sweeps State Competition

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Left to right: professor Nathan Mertens, Tyler Trickey, Catherine Ryan, Lee Ross and Ian Gunnarschja.

The Music Teachers National Association hosted the Arkansas state round of the Young Artist Woodwind Competition at the University of Central Arkansas on Nov. 5. The Saxophone Studio at the University of Arkansas had four students enter the Woodwind Division of the competition: Ian Gunnarschja, Lee Ross, Catherine Ryan, and Tyler Trickey.

The students prepared their respective 45-plus minute programs with John Krebs, associate professor of music at Hendrix College. They performed works by Yoshimatsu, Larsson, Beach, Dundee, Robert, Kieffer, Maurice, Tomasi, Agocs, Waignein, Bach, Dahl, Scott, and Garrop.

"It was a great day for our studio!" says Nathan Mertens, saxophone professor at the U of A.

Ryan, a fourth-year music education and saxophone performance double major was selected as the winner of the competition. Trickey, second-year music education and saxophone performance double major, received alternate; and Lee Ross, fifth-year music education and saxophone performance double major, and Ian Gunnarschja, first-year masters student in saxophone performance, received honorable mention.

"They all prepared these programs in less than three months, which is a feat in itself, and then gave poised, professional, and artistic performances. And that's the goal! Winning is just an added bonus. I'm so incredibly proud of these students!" remarked Mertens.

The Music Teachers National Association's national competitions are the most successful and prestigious student competitions in the country. Each year, thousands of students compete for top prizes and national recognition. The purpose of the Music Teachers National Association Performance competitions 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.

The three-tiered competition begins with state competitions. As the winner, Ryan will compete as a Division Finalist in the MTNA South Central Division Young Artist Woodwind competition. The winner of the division competition will compete in the National Finals. Division winners will be announced in mid-January and will then compete in the national finals at the annual MTNA National Conference in Reno, Nevada.