For the third straight year, a Lawrence University pianist has earned first-place honors at the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association’s Wisconsin Badger Collegiate Performance Competition.
Jon Hanrahan, a sophomore piano performance major from Johnsburg, Ill., received $200 for his winning performance in the competition held May 17 at UW-Stevens Point. Senior Daniel Kuzuhara earned honorable mention honors in the competition. Lawrence was well-represented with three other student pianists also competing: Emily Blandon Kovar, Mingfei Li and Evan Newman.
Lawrentians Julian Delfino and Thomas Lee won the 2013 and 2012 Badger Collegiate Performance Competitions, respectively.
A student in the piano studio of Michael Mirzahi, Hanrahan performed the first movement of Haydn’s Piano Sonata, Missy Mazzoli’s “Heartbreaker” and Chopin’s Nocturne in B Major for the competition.
The WMTA Badger Collegiate Piano Competition is open to college students under the age of 28. Participants must perform from memory a solo recital program of 20-30 minutes in length with works representing contrasting styles from three of five historical periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, Contemporary.
About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2014 and the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College.” Individualized learning, the development of multiple interests and community engagement are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.
