(l-r) Aleksandra Kasman, Elizabeth Tsai, Jade Simmons, Mindy Lin Liu and Wesley A. Hyde

Stillman hosted its annual Zelpha Wells Piano Competition April 13-14. Originally conceived as a competition for collegians, this year’s event featured a category for junior pianists. Five students competed in the college division while nine students competed in the junior division.

The judge for this year’s competition was Jade Simmons, who performed a guest artist recital on April 13. Chosen as Concert Artist Guild’s New Music/New Places Fellow, Jade offers a diverse mix of repertoire from the classics to the cutting edge, all presented with her unique communicative powers.  The Washington Post branded her “A clear, powerful pianist with a magnetic personality…worth seeing any time.”

Wesley A. Hyde, a junior from the University of Alabama, won fist place in the college division playing ‘Années de Pèlerinage Deuxième année: Italie’ (I. Sposalizio) by Franz Liszt. Taking second place was Mandy Lin Liu, a senior from Samford University. Liu played Etude in D flat Major ‘Un Sospiro’ by Franz Liszt. Hyde and Liu received framed certificates and cash prizes in the amount of $700 and $400 respectively.

Aleksandra Kasman, an 11th grader from Vestavia Hills High School, won first place in the junior division playing ‘Fairy Tale, Op.8, No.2’ by Nikolai Medtner. Capturing second place was Elizabeth Tsai, a 6th grader from Hope Christian School. Kasman played Etude in D flat Major ‘Un Sospiro’ by Franz Liszt. Kasman and Tsai received framed certificates and cash prizes of $300 and $150 respectively.

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