The competition was established in 2005 to provide an additional performance opportunity for talented pianists from Washington state. It runs concurrently with the MTNA Competition, but is not part of the MTNA Competition. The Outstanding Artist Piano Competition (OAPC) may serve as a positive initial step for students desiring to compete in the MTNA Performance Competition in future years. A teacher may not enter the same student in both WSMTA OAPC and MTNA Performance Competition in the same year.
The OAPC is a state level competition with monetary awards. Registration opened on August 15, 2024 and closed on September 11, 2024 (at 11:59 pm Pacific Time). Questions? Contact Cherie Felts, OAC Chair.
Deadline and competition dates for the 2025 OAPC will be announced by June 30, 2025.
2024 OUTSTANDING ARTIST PIANO COMPETITION RESULTS
JUNIOR
| FIRST PLACE | Ian Fung (J-24) Student of Ni Liu |
| SECOND PLACE | Qingshan Li (J-12) Student of Renato Fabbro |
| THIRD PLACE | Simon Zhu (J-19) Student of Maria Maltseva |
| UNRANKED HONORABLE MENTIONS | Declan Hong (J-2) Student of Judith Widrig Anna Horja (J-6) Student of Kay Zavislak, NCTM Daniel Luan (J-8) Student of Peter Mack, NCTM Khai An Ho (J-11) Student of Jennifer Bowman Katherine Xiao (J-18) Student of Anaida Nagdyan Antonio Talarico (J-23) Student of Greg Presley, NCTM |
| BIPOC, Women, and Underrepresented Composers Prize | Daniel Luan (J-8) Student of Peter Mack, NCTM |
SENIOR
| FIRST PLACE | Nathan Zhao (S-6) Student of Peter Mack, NCTM |
| SECOND PLACE | Elsa Jonson (S-7) Student of Kay Zavislak, NCTM |
| THIRD PLACE | Vivian Chang (S-8) Student of Donna Bender |
| UNRANKED HONORABLE MENTIONS | Tom Li (S-5) Student of Barbara Miller Bowen Leung (S-11) Student of Lina Jiang Phil Yao (S-16) Student of Ni Liu Joel Rice (S-19) Student of Jensina Oliver, NCTM Poppy Robins (S-21) Student of Kay Zavislak, NCTM |
| BIPOC, Women, and Underrepresented Composers Prize | Maria Horja (S-9) Student of Judith Widrig |
WSMTA is grateful for the support Tulalip Tribes provides for this WSMTA program with a generous grant in 2025.
BIPOC, Women and Underrepresented Composers Prize
Beginning November 2024
We are pleased to announce the creation of a new prize in the WSMTA Outstanding Artist Piano Competition this fall (November 9-11, 2024). Our current established competition remains fully in place with prizes for Winners and Honorable Mentions. IN ADDITION, students will have an option to use ONE of their repertoire pieces to be considered for the new BIPOC, Women and Underrepresented Composers Prize.
To begin this new adventure, the judges will choose ONE WINNER from each of our two Divisions (Junior and Senior). Teachers and students are encouraged to peruse the compiled list of eligible composers that will be on the WSMTA website linked to OAPC information. Students are not restricted to selecting a piece by a composer on this list or any of the other links referenced. However, if a piece is selected by a composer not on the list, please email Dr. Lark Powers (copying Cherie Felts), by JUNE 1 to have the composer approved. This step is required only for pieces by composers not yet appearing on the OAPC list. Thank you!
Only one piece per student may be eligible for this new special prize. If a student’s program has more than one piece of repertoire in this category, ONLY ONE MAY BE LISTED for consideration (this choice is up to the student and teacher). Please note, regardless of the special prize, OAPC encourages teachers and students to explore varied repertoire and to learn many pieces by underrepresented composers. The registration form will require you to clearly designate your chosen repertoire piece, in order to be included in the list for the Judges to consider for this award.
WSMTA Leadership and the OAPC Judges are excited to hear inclusive performances and a broader range of representation. However, this is not a requirement to enter the competition and will not affect eligibility for the usual prizes and honorable mentions, but we hope participation in the BIPOC, Women and Underrepresented Composers Prize will be embraced by many!
For questions on what constitutes an underrepresented composer, please contact OAPC Chair Cherie Felts or consult this list. Scroll a little further to read more about this new award.
There will be one winner per division. The monetary prize for the Junior Division winner is $150 and for the Senior Division winner it is $250.
In addition, the 2024 Junior and Senior Winners of this new prize will be invited to perform in the WSMTA Winners Recital at our Annual Conference in June of 2025!
2024 Outstanding Artist Piano Competition Judges
Yelena Balabanova, NCTM
Yelena Balabanova, a native of Kharkiv, Ukraine, is one of only 6 Steinway Classical Artists in WA state. She is an acclaimed soloist and is widely recognized for her extensive repertoire, original interpretations, innovative programs, and a sought-after clinician on healthy technique and artistry, presenting numerous workshops and masterclasses every year. Among Yelena’s many credentials, she holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from CU-Boulder, received a Recognition Certificate from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts for the Artistic Achievements of her Students, VIP from National Federation of Music Clubs, Teacher of Distinction from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Canada and Certificate of Appreciation for Teaching Mastery from the World Piano Teachers Association in Singapore. In 2023, Dr.Balabanova has been inducted into the Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame.
Dr. Balabanova taught at the Renaissance Music Academy of VA, VA State University, University of CO at Boulder and was featured Artist in Residence at the CO Music Fest for four years. Yelena is a founder of International Conservatory Studio and the North Sound Federated Music Club. Her students have been recognized at many festivals and competitions across USA, Australia, and Europe, and have been awarded admissions to prestigious programs like Cleveland Institute of Music, BYU, Peabody, Wheaton, University of CO, Harvard, Philips-Andover, Chatham School of Music in Manchester, UK, Juilliard, Northwestern and others.
Currently Yelena serves the community as a Board member of the WA Federation of Music Clubs, Chopin Foundation Northwest Council Artistic Co-director and Artistic Advisor to the Pacific International Piano competitions. Yelena is one of only 89 Accredited Speakers in the world, the highest accreditation by Toastmasters International. For more information, visit www.SkymusicSpeaker.com.
Lisa Bergman
A passionate promoter of classical music, Lisa Bergman is a national Gracie Award-winning
radio announcer on Classical KING 98.1. A concert pianist specializing in collaborative piano and chamber music she is a graduate of the Juilliard School, Stony Brook University and the University of Washington, cum laude. She served on the University of Washington Music Faculty and her discography includes six CDs. As an American Artistic Ambassador she toured the Pacific Rim. Bergman is founder of the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series; Co-founder of Northwest Opera in Schools and Director of Adult Piano Retreat Director at the Icicle Creek Center for the Arts where she served for seven years as the Executive Director. Bergman is a member of the Hall of Fame for the Washington State Music Teachers Association for “extraordinary service, outstanding musicianship, dedication and leadership which have significantly contributed to the development and growth of music education in the State of Washington.”
Roger McVey, NCTM
American pianist Roger McVey has performed as a soloist and collaborative pianist throughout the United States, in Europe, Asia, Mexico, and New Zealand. He is Head of Keyboard Studies and Professor of Piano at the Lionel Hampton School of Music, of the University of Idaho. He holds degrees from the University of Kansas, Indiana University, and East Carolina University. Additionally, he has studied at the Aspen Music Festival and the Chautauqua Institute. His past teachers include Menahem Pressler, Anton Nel, Jack Winerock, Herbert Stessin, and Henry Doskey.
Dr. McVey was a top prizewinner in the International Beethoven Competition (U.S.A.), and he was a Semi-Finalist at the International Franz Liszt Competition in Poland, where critics praised his “passionate artistry and electrifying virtuosity.” He has released five solo CD recordings and is featured as a collaborative pianist on four others. In addition to his solo performances, Dr. McVey was a founding member of the Trio St. Croix, and regularly collaborates as a chamber musician. He is a dedicated advocate for contemporary music, and has worked with numerous leading American composers, such as Julia Wolfe, Marc Mellits, Libby Larsen, Eric Ewazen, Harvey Sollberger, Lori Laitman, Emma Lou Diemer, and Wynn-Anne Rossi.
Roger is a passionate educator and a frequent adjudicator for the Washington State Music Teachers Association. He has served as an executive board member of the Idaho Music Teachers Association. He has recently presented at the College Music Society National Conference, the National Conference for Keyboard Pedagogy, and the Idaho Music Teachers Association conference. Besides the piano, his other interests include cooking, playing chess, skiing, and learning to play the guitar. He is a Steinway & Sons Hall of Fame Teacher.
Past Outstanding Artist Competition Results
(Click on the year to view the results from past years)