MMTA Newsletter January/February, 2012 MMTA President's Letter

January/February, 2012 [MMTA NEWSLETTER]
Senior Piano
Winner: Jeff Zhang, teacher – Alexander Braginsky
Alternate Advancing to Divisional: Lucas Jones, teacher – Joseph Zins
Honorable Mention: Robert Levinger, teacher – Paul Wirth
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Jeff Zhang is 16 years old and is currently a senior at Wayzata High School. He started piano
when he was six years old, and is currently studying with Professor Alexander Braginsky .
Jeff has won numerous awards for his piano performances. In 2010, he won national 1 st place in
the MTNA Junior Piano Competition National Finals, 1 st prize winner 2011 Schubert Club Senior
Piano competition, 1 st place winner MMTA Young Artist Contest in 2009, and 2 nd place in the
Young People’s Symphony Concert Association concerto competition in 2007 and 2009.
Outside performance, Jeff is dedicated to bringing music to all reaches of the community. At
school, Jeff founded the Classical Music Listening Club in order to bring the appreciation of
classical music to Wayzata students. Also, Jeff volunteers at several senior living homes as a
piano performer to bring the music to the seniors and share music with the community.
Lucas Jones is currently a sophomore at Minnehaha Academy. He is 16 years old and comes
from a very mixed racial back round: African American, German, Welsh, Thai, Chinese,
Portuguese, and Indian. Some of his favorite classes are World History, Biology, and Chinese.
Lucas started piano when he was 6 years old with Dr. Joe Zins - who has been his teacher for
almost 10 years now. Lucas’ favorite composers consist of Chopin, Liszt, Beethoven, and
Prokofiev. The biggest challenge for hum as a pianist was getting over that “2 hour practice
time” hump in middle school; but has no trouble with practicing now. Lucas looks to a bright
future in the world of piano with possibilities that are endless.
Lucas enjoys watching movies, playing baseball, listening to music and reading history books,
going to Twins games, practicing, playing sports, and spending time with relatives.
Bobby Levinger, 15, a student of Dr. Paul Wirth, is a sophomore at Central High School in La
Crosse, Wisconsin. His greatest accomplishment to date occurred in 2009 when he won the
St. Paul Piano Teachers' Association Concerto Competition and received the privilege of
performing with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra.
In 2011, Bobby began the year by earning Honorable Mention at the La Crosse Rising Stars
Concerto Competition. He also won 2 nd place at the Thursday Musical Young Artist
Competition in St. Paul, and 4 th place in MMTA’s Young Artist Competition. Later in 2011, he
received honorable mention at the MTNA State Division. He is also a past finalist in The
Schubert Club Scholarship Competition, and a two-time Exemplary Award winner at the
Wisconsin Scholastic Music Association State Festival.
Bobby, along with his father, founded their “Harmony for Haiti” charity in 2010. Bobby
traveled to area churches, performing for Haitian relief. The charity produced over $2,500.