Young Artist Achievement Awards Winners
The 2019 Young Artist Achievement Awards competition was held at the Blair School of Music. Twenty-two strings and Forty-one piano students participated in the competition.
Judges were:
STRINGS
Brian St. John (WKU)
PIANO
Nancy Riley (Belmont), Arunesh Nadgir (MTSU)
A Superior rating at the March 16, 2019 local Tennessee Teacher’s National Association audition and a passing grade on the Theory exam were the eligibility requirements for entrants.
The following winners were chosen, each receiving a Category Winner plaque:
Strings, grades K-2:
Alexa Huang, student of Shu-Zhen Yang
Strings, grades 3-4:
Evelyn Zadell, student of Christia Chambers
Strings, grades 5-6:
Megan Loh, student of Dana Meyer
Strings, grades 7-8:
Brian Xu, student of Shu-Zhen Yang
Strings, grades 9-10:
Sheeline Yu, student of Connie Heard
Strings, grades 11-12:
Katy Rose Bennett, student of Dana Meyer
Piano, grades K-2:
Ryan Zhao, student of Li Li
Piano, grades 3-4:
Sophia Li, student of Li Li
Piano, grades 5-6:
Daniel Guo, student of Heather Conner
Piano, grades 7-8:
Sophie Li, student of Heather Conner
Piano, grades 9-10:
Carissa Shuxteau, student of Valerie Middleton
Piano, grades 11-12:
Jinsun Kim, student of Roland Schneller
Grand prize winners were chosen at the Winner’s concerts which were adjudicated by the day's judges.
Grades K-6:
Ryan Zhao, student of Li Li - received an additional prize of $150
Grades 7-12:
Sophie Li, student of Heather Conner - received an additional prize of $300
Those who made this event possible:
Kristian Klefstad - chairman
Valerie Middleton – faculty liaison with Blair School of Music
Coordinators of the Performance Auditions, Dana Meyer, Sarah Barham, and Daniel Landes.
The NAMTA Board for supporting this event, all the participating teachers.
Sarah Barham, Christia Chambers, Dana Meyer, Debra Nelson, and Amanda Welch for helping throughout the day as monitors
Jama Reagan, Melissa Rose, and Heather Conner for allowing us to use their studios.
Blair technicians who provided a DVD of the Winners’ Concerts
2019 YAAA K-6th Grade
Category Winners:
Alexa Huang, Evelyn Zadell, Megan Loh,
Ryan Zhao, Sophia Li and Daniel Guo
Grand Prize Winner:
Ryan Zhao

2019 YAAA 7th-12th Grade
Category Winners:
Brian Xu, Sheeline Yu, Katy Rose Bennett,
Sophie Li, Carissa Shuxteau and Jinsun Kim
Grand Prize Winner:
Sophie Li
