(February 17, 2016) Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico School for the Arts is pleased to announce NMSA violinist Maggie King and LAHS pianist Presley Gao received first place in the 2016 Jackie McGehee Young Artists’ Competition for Piano and Strings. The panel of awardees also included 2nd place winner NMSA cellist Sam Barrett and NMSA violinist Hanna Zercher who received honorable mention. All students are mentored by NMSA teachers: violinist Kerri Lay, cellist Carla Lehmeier- Tatum, and pianist Jacquelyn Helin.
Since 1992 the competition has provided $65,000 in prize money to talented youth throughout New Mexico. This year offered 17 student finalists’ ages 13 through 17 an adjudicated performance on February 13, 2016. First-place winners in each category received $2,000.00, plus the opportunity to perform with the New Mexico Philharmonic on April 24th 3:00pm at the First United Methodist Church, 314 Lead Ave. SW in Albuquerque, NM.
***
NMSA provides access to a rigorous mastery arts and academic high school education for youth with passion and aptitude in the arts, leading to post-secondary learning, careers in the arts, and lives that contribute to society.
NMSA is a public/private partnership comprised of the NMSA-Art Institute, a nonprofit art educational institution, and NMSA High School. NMSA’s purpose is to provide the highest standards of excellence in preparing New Mexico’s artistically talented students to compete in the national arena for post-secondary education and/or professional careers in the arts. NMSA offers pre-professional instruction in the performing and visual arts and rigorous academics leading to a high school diploma. NMSA is located in the former St. Francis Cathedral School, 275 East Alameda in Santa Fe. For more information, visit: www.NMSchoolForTheArts.org.