With the Academy’s 2nd Annual Spring Music Competition well under way (results will be announced soon!), it is the perfect time to reflect upon the benefits of participating in a competition. One of the Academy’s main goals is to provide students with the opportunity to get valuable musicianship feedback from Mason School of Music faculty. A chance to perform in a special Honors Recital in Mason’s Harris Theatre is another. Teaching Artist Faith Zuniga, who proposed the idea to the Academy, shares her unique insights on this topic.
“Why competitions?” Ms. Zunia poses the question. “I believe it is important for music students to get involved in as many public performances as possible, from studio classes and outreach performances (such as at retirement homes), to local, national, and international competitions. Benefits include the jump in progress that always comes with practicing a lot and exposure to what dedicated fellow student musicians are doing. Competitions are a great measurement of progress and also an inspiration to always perform better and better. I am especially attracted to the ‘multiple-winner’ competition model, which is why I proposed the idea to the Academy. By choosing multiple ‘winners'(i.e. the highest scoring auditionees), the competition encourages many to participate, provides winners the opportunity to perform onstage at the beautiful formal setting of Harris Theatre, and also provides ALL entrants with great feedback from qualified judges to aid continued growth.”
“In addition to the MCAA Music Competition, there are many competitions and events available to students in this area,” continues Ms. Zuniga. “Northern Virginia has deservedly been called the ‘powerhouse of piano teachers’, and I am always inspired by the extraordinarily high level of my colleagues’ teaching – for example, at the recent Robert & Frances Allen Competition that I was honored to judge again this past January. I encourage my students to be very involved in area events through the NVMTA (Northern Virginia Music Teachers’ Association). I highly recommend that all area music teachers join this great organization! Along with piano, there are events for every instrument and voice. My students have already benefited from performing at the Spring Festival, Sonata Festival, General Recitals, Judged Recitals, and Achievement Awards Competitions, and there is so much more that NVMTA has to offer, including the Bach-Baroque Festival, the Concerto Festival, and the Concerto Competition!”
“Apart from the NVMTA, the opportunities are endless,” states Ms. Zuniga. “Just some of the available area events include the Robert & Frances Allen Competition, the IYAPC Competition, the Steinway Washington Piano Competition, the Bland Competitions, and the Library Concerts at the Alden auditions. Outside of the area, my own students love to participate in the American Protégé International Competitions and have performed frequently at the winners’ recitals at Carnegie Hall in NYC! Recent winners of the American Protégé Competitions from my studio include Daniel Neathery, Rachel Neathery, Keira Konson, and Ava Harhay [in order of appearance above] . I am very proud of them and their hard work!”
Thanks you Faith for this valuable information. If you are interested in learning more about joining a competition, talk to your music teacher!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ACADEMY’S SPRING MUSIC COMPETITION