Piano students tickle ivories for high ratings

Le Mars Community High School students Megan Dunn (seated); Jessica Kelly (inset); Kristen Ahlers and Nathan Young participated in the State Piano Festival in February. [Click to enlarge]

Fingers flew across the black and white keys on the piano keyboard during the 2009 State Piano Festival held last month at Hull Western Christian High School.

Four Le Mars Community High School students, Megan Dunn, Nathan Young, Jessica Kelly and Kristen Ahlers, participated in the competition. which is under the direction of the Iowa High School Music Association.

It was the fourth competition for Dunn, who took not only a Division I rating but also received "Outstanding Performance in Center" for her performance of a movement from "Danza Del Gaucho Matrero."

The outstanding designation can only given by a judge his or her discretion, according to Le Mars Community Schools director of music Ted Hallberg.

"This piano festival had only one center, so Megan was chosen as the best he had heard all day," Hallberg said.

This is the fourth year Dunn has competed in the State Piano Festival.

"I was working on this piece and others for a scholarship audition and felt at the time it was best for the contest," Dunn explained.

What did she like about her piece?

"I guess it's impressive sounding," she said. "It plays well and sounds really good."

Only one judge hears the student play.

"It's kind of tough," Dunn said.

Before she started playing at the contest, Dunn said the judge told her good luck.

"He knew it was difficult piece," she said.

The solos are performed from memory.

"Afterward he told me I did a good job and needed to have my notes more separated in style," she added. "I thought I did well for the first performance of that piece," Dunn said.

The competition was held on a Saturday and it wasn't until Dunn was in school Monday that she found out from Hallberg that she had received the "Outstanding" award.

Dunn has taken piano lessons for nine years and started with Susan Grupp. She is in her second year of study under Dr. Kathryn March at Morningside College in Sioux City.

"Music is a major part of my life," said Dunn, who also plays alto saxophone in band and jazz band.

Dunn will continue her piano studies at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. She said she also wants to take up organ studies.

She is the daughter of Jay and Vickie Dunn of Merrill.

LCHS senior Nathan Young took a Division I rating for his performance of "Prestismo" from Beethoven's Second Opus No. 1.

"It was my first piano performance in two years, I was pretty nervous," Young said.

Young's former piano teacher, Susan Grupp, moved away from Le Mars. He now studies with Dr. Richard Steinbeck of Briar Cliff University.

"My piano teacher played a few pieces, and I liked this one the best," Young said of his contest piece.

Young had competed his freshman and sophomore years, earning Division I ratings each year.

"Compared to the other times I played in contest, I could have done a little better," Young admitted.

Young plays trombone in the band and jazz band, participates in small group ensemble and is a member of the Crimson & Black Show Choir. He is the son of Bruce and Debra Young of Le Mars.

Sophomore Kristen Ahlers took a Division I rating in her second year of competition at the State Piano Festival for her performance of "Santasie."

Ahlers now studies under Kristen Iverson, after studying with Susan Grupp.

"My piano teacher gave me a couple of options of music pieces," Ahlers said.

Ahlers chose "Santasie" and said she felt it was one of her better performances.

"The judge said my runs were good," she said.

Ahlers was pleased with the I rating, after earning a II at last year's festival.

"I'm ready to go for next year," she added.

Ahlers participates in band, playing French horn, and chorus, as well as playing French horn in the the symphony orchestra.

She is the daughter of John and Debra Ahlers of Le Mars.

Jessica Kelly, an LCHS junior, took home a Division II rating for her performance of "Hungarian."

This was her first time participating in the state contest.

"It was a good experience," she said. "The judge told me I did a good job and was just one point off from receiving a I rating."

Kelly has studied piano the direction of Inez Hoogeveen for three years. She previously took lessons from Virginia Bitterly.

Kelly plans to compete in the state contest next year. She said the experience will help her do better in the future.

Kelly is a member of the choir and LCHS band and plays set in the pit band for Crimson & Black Show Choir. She is the the daughter of Jeff and Amy Kelly of Le Mars.

"The four students from LCHS who participated were outstanding in every detail," said Hallberg. "They performed the music very musically and with great skill. It was a pleasure for me as music director to observe their performances. I am very proud of their dedication and work."

Judges are provided with a copy of the music. The piece must not exceed five minutes in length.

Students are scored in five areas: general effectiveness of the piece, technique, interpretation, rhythm, and other performance factors. There are 25 points possible for a perfect ballot.

Hallberg added he wished more students would take advantage of this festival.

"Students receive written and verbal comments from the judge about their performance. This gives them immediate feedback in order to improve their piano skills," he said.