Evelyn’s Piano Studio Holds Summer Recital
by Evelyn Stichter
Bourbon/Nappanee – Evelyn’s Piano Studio, of Etna Green, held her Summer Recital and Awards Ceremony, at The First Church of God in Nappanee, June 14th.
This year’s piano recital included music of all genres – hymns (What a Friend We Have in Jesus performed by Shakira Miller, age 9) and movie themes (The James Bond Theme by Tiffaney Hughes, age 12); Jazz, contemporary piano solos, and of course the classics works by composers like Mozart or Haydn were also performed.
Evelyn’s Piano Studio has over 35 students registered for lessons. Mrs. Evelyn Stichter holds her ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and is currently serving as Vice-President of the local Music Teacher’s Association of Goshen-Elkhart (GEMTA). Her students play at all levels starting as a beginner all the way to college level sonatas, preludes & fugues, or Chopin’s nocturnes. They range in ages from 8 years old to 80 years old!
The students have many opportunities to use their music learning by participating in various festivals, assessments, master classes and performance nights. Each fall many of the students will participate in the AIM Festival (Achievement In Music) hosted at Goshen College by the GEMTA membership.
As part of the studio’s main curriculum, students also register in both piano and theory assessments through The Music Development Program in the spring. This year Jonah Reichenbach (of Warsaw, age 10), Lexi Miller (of Bourbon, age 15) and Nathaniel Stout (of Warsaw, age 17) received special commendations for attaining the highest scores on their piano exams in the state.
This year brought a special honor, when both Jason Gingerich (of Bourbon, age 15) and Levi Stout (of Warsaw, age 18) were selected to perform as part of a Master Class with Dr. Beverly Lapp at Goshen College hosted by GEMTA.
Levi Stout won 1st place in his age category at the Hoosier Auditions, District B held at Goshen College. This is a performance competition hosted by the Indiana Music Teachers Association (IMTA). He also won the studio award for Most Outstanding Student – 2013-14.
Nathaniel Stout (of Warsaw, age 17) and Jonathan Deeter (of Nappanee, age 14) each wrote their own original composition to submit to the Opus Festival. This is a young composer’s competition funded by IMTA. Nathaniel took 1st place in his age category and will have opportunity to play his piece at this year’s conference held at Anderson University this fall.
Mrs. Stichter would like to congratulate all her students on a job well done this year.
Pictured in the full studio picture above: Back Row – Nathaniel Stout, Jonathan Deeter, Travis Miller, Jason Gingerich, Sarah Miller, Levi Stout, Anna Stout, Daniel Gingerich, Jacob Deeter, Carolyn Rahe
Middle Rows – Nikki Gramm, Rachelle Gingerich, Alivia Taylor, Lydia Stout, Heather Kauffman, Cassie Gramm, Tiffaney Hughes, Jonah Reichenbach, Shelby Rahe, Kendall Hensley, Katie Yoder, Lia Stichter, Kezia Scherer-Berry, Melissa Mullet, Marlene Hershberger, Eleya Dadson, Rendall Miller, Mrs. Stichter
Front Row – Shakira Miller, Michael Gingerich, Jeremiah Dadson, Claire Reichenbach, Damon Kuntz, Breylon Wareham, Janessa Slabaugh, Beverly Slabaugh.