Composition students advance to the MTNA Competition finals

Congratulations to Music Institute of Chicago Composition students Aliya Alsafa (pictured above with a flower)  and Holden Mui (pictured above, getting composition tips from Glenn Gould's statue!), who are finalists in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) composition contest. 

Aliya, age 10, placed first in the elementary division of the Illinois competition and she studies piano with Music Institute faculty members Claire Aebersold Neiweem and Ralph Neiweem.  Holden, age 12, also placed first in the junior division Illinois competition and is a piano student of Music Institute teacher Kate Nir.   The Illinois first place finishes allowed them to advance to the East Central regional competition, where they both won (again!) and placed first in their respective divisions.  Both young composers are composition students of Dr. Matt Hagle, Director of the Music Institute's Musicianship Program.

The final round winners for each division will be announced in January.  The named winners will then perform their winning pieces at the Winners Concert at the MTNA National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 21–25, 2015. 

We are really proud of you, Aliya and Holden, and good luck to you in this final round of competition!