The Music Teachers National Association chose Tacy Volunteer Evan Hu as an alternate in its national finals to be held in Baltimore, Maryland in March.
Mr. Hu’s piano skills made him a state winner in Washington, D.C., allowing him to progress to the MTNA Eastern Division Competition this month. Hu competed against top performers from 14 other states to earn a place as an alternate in the national completion next month. Mr. Hu will face the challenge of stepping into the competition in the event of another musician being unable to perform.
We congratulate Mr. Hu and his piano teacher Dr. Marjorie Lee for their achievement. Mr. Hu excelled in the Junior Competition, open to youth aged 11 to 14. Next year, he will qualify for Senior Competition for students aged 15 to 19.
In addition to his success in competitions, Mr. Hu won the hearts of many in Montgomery County by sharing is musical talents with others. Through the Tacy Foundation he has played for seniors living in residential housing and at hospitals such as Shady Grove Adventist and the Veterans at Loch Raven hospital for long-term care.
Mr. Hu has mentored children through the Tacy Foundation’s Piano Pals program at Gibbs Elementary School, providing instruction to younger students who might otherwise never learned to play music. Through the foundation, Mr. Hu has also been a volunteer teacher for a senior gentleman living at Asbury Methodist Village.
Mr. Hu is also a regular pianist for the foundation's Noon Young Artists Concerts at National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. At NIH he and other young musicians play music throughout the atrium for patients, families, research scientists, staff and visitors.
"These wonderful performers consider music a medicine for all," said Tacy Foundation President Charlotte Holliday. "They are all generous and humble, vibrantly making a difference in the world."
You can also hear Evan Hu play Grieg Piano Concerto, Movement No. 1 on the Tacy Foundation CD Music Fills the Heart with Joy. This CD was sent to children’s and veterans’ charities throughout the United States. Similar CDs are available for purchase on the foundation’s website: http://www.tacyfoundation.org/collections/frontpage.
“Last year, every time Evan won a competition, he made a financial contribution to the foundation from his winnings,” said President Charlotte Holliday. “These monetary awards have enriched the foundation's work for hospitals through CD recording and duplication. The money has also supported Piano Pals programs for children and seniors alike and helped us to provide live music for seniors, too.”
The purpose of the Music Teachers National Association composition competition is to encourage creativity and self expression in student musicians through the art of composing and to recognize their achievements, as well as the significant work of their teachers.
MTNA was founded in 1876 with the purpose of advancing the value of music study and music-making to society while supporting the careers and professionalism of teachers of music. Other students and teachers can find out more about future competitions by going to: http://www.mtna.org/.