Stillman’s Zelpha Wells Piano Competition
 Held April 16-17

TUSCALOOSA, AL—April 20, 2010--Stillman hosted its annual Zelpha Wells Piano Competition for Collegiate Artists April 16-17. The event pays homage to one of Tuscaloosa’s most distinguished citizens, music educators, and humanitarians.

A graduate of Talladega College, where she majored in piano and minored in organ and public school music, Zelpha Wells received certificates in music from Peabody College and Fisk University. She also has been featured in Time magazine and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. A member of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Wells has taught music for more than 50 years and is internationally known as a pianist and purveyor of music.

Semi-finals began Friday, April 16, in the Wynn Humanities and Fine Arts Center. The final round of competition was held Saturday, April 17. Recitals, which were free and open to the public, were held each evening beginning at 7 p.m.

On Friday evening, internationally acclaimed pianist, Awadagin Pratt, gave a recital at 7 p.m. in the Wynn Center Presentation Room. He is associate professor of Piano and Artist in Residence at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Pratt is acclaimed for his musical insight and intensely involving performances in recital and with symphony orchestras.
   
On Saturday evening, students were featured. The fifteen participants included: University of Alabama students, Arthur Estel Bosarge, Anna Kathleen Lagrone, Wesley Alan Hyde, Laryne Elizabeth Williford; University of Alabama-Birmingham student, Kseniia Polstiankina; Birmingham Southern College student, Rose Elizabeth Reddick; Lawrence University student, Leonard Otis Hayes; Samford University students Lillian Lawless Roberts, Amanda Lin Liu, Herbert Williams, Diana Lavinia Preoteasa; Lee University students, Knar Abrahamyan and Hsin-Ju Lo; Ryan Jones and Matthew Steven Wilkinson.

Kseniia Polstiankina won first place having played Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker”: March for the final piece from her repertoire. In addition to the title of first place, Polstiankina received a $1500 prize.

Hsin-Ju Lo won second place, having played Franz Liszt’s “Hungarian” Rhapsody No. 12 for the final piece in her repertoire and winning an $800 prize.

Knar Abrahamyan won third place, having played Sergei Prokofiev’s Sonata Op. 1 for her final piece from her repertoire and having received a $500 prize.

Leonard Otis Hayes received Honorable Mention, having played George Walker’s Piano Sonata No. 2.