James Maverick earned first-place honors in the national finals of the piano division of the recently completed 2011 National Federation of Music Clubs Student/Collegiate Auditions while senior Daniel O’Connor received second-place honors in the organ division of the same competition. Both advanced to the national finals after winning the Wisconsin state competition in March.
Maverick, a junior from of Baton Rouge, La., received the Agnes Fowler/Marie V. Thiesen Award, which includes a prize of $1,100. In recognition of his outstanding performance, the judges also awarded Maverick two supplemental prizes: the Annie Lou Ellis Award of $1,000 and the Janice Clarkson Cleworth Scholarship for $400. Maverick is a student in the studio of Michael Mizrahi.
O’Connor, a senior from Dallas, Texas, who studies with university organist Kathrine Handford, was awarded the $1,000 Ruby S. Vought Scholarship for his second-place performance.
Lawrence was the only school in the country with two award winners among the finalists in the National Federation of Music Clubs competition.
Conducted via submitted audition tape, the competition is open to musicians 19-26 years of age in 13 categories. Students are required to perform a repertoire from memory covering a challenging range of 4-5 musical styles, depending upon the category.
Founded in 1898, the National Federation of Music Clubs is among the world’s largest music organizations, providing opportunities for musical study, performance and appreciation to more than 200,000 senior, student and junior members nationwide.
Leonard Hayes, also a senior from Dallas, added to his growing body of achievements by winning the 2011 Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Collegiate Badger competition held Sunday, May 22 at UW-Eau Claire. A student in the studio of Catherine Kautsky, Hayes received a first-place prize of $200.
Julian Delfino, a sophomore from Irvine, Calif., and a student of Anthony Padilla, earned honorable mention honors at the WMTA competition.
A total of 12 pianists from three schools — Lawrence, UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse — competed in this year’s WMTA Collegeiate Badger competition finals.
