Bass wins statewide piano competition; four other Lawrence students honored

Jonathan Bass, a Lawrence University fifth-year senior from Greenville, Wisconsin, was named the winner in the Young Artist Performance Piano division in a statewide competition of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

By winning the state competition, Bass moves on to represent Wisconsin at the division level, with a chance to compete nationally at the annual MTNA Conference in March 2024.

Four other Lawrence piano students were honored at the Wisconsin competition, held Oct. 14 at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville:

Henry Giles, a senior from University City, Missouri, was named a Young Artist Performance Alternate.

Hazel Musto, a senior from Philadelphia, was named a Young Artist Performance Piano Honorable Mention.

Rinako Kishi, a senior from Yokohama, Kanagawa in Japan, was named a Young Artist Performance Piano Honorable Mention.

Ella Dorsey, a sophomore from San Diego, was named a Senior Performance Piano Honorable Mention.

For Bass, a dual-degree student majoring in music performance (piano) and French, the win follows earlier competition success. In the spring, he took first place in a national piano competition organized by the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC). The biennial competition draws submissions from piano students across the country.

Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music and Bass’s piano teacher in the Conservatory, said the results at the statewide competition are testament to the high level at which Lawrence students are performing.

“These competitions provide a wonderful opportunity for our students to hone their craft, gain valuable feedback, and showcase the progress they've made as musicians,” he said. “These results speak to the consistent strength of the students in our Conservatory of Music, who continue to represent Lawrence brilliantly in their performances all over the country.”

The MTNA National Competitions are the most prestigious student competitions in the country. Each year, thousands of students compete for top prizes and national recognition. The purpose of the MTNA performance competitions is to provide educational experiences for students and teachers and to recognize exceptionally talented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence.

The three-tiered Junior, Senior and Young Artist Performance Competitions begin with state competitions. The winners/representatives of each state's competitions advance to a video-only division competition. Division winners then compete in the national finals at the annual MTNA National Conference.