John Kang, of Los Alamos is New Mexico’s Division Finalist in the MTNA Junior Piano Artist Competition. Courtesy/MTNA
MTNA News:
John Kang, of Los Alamos, has been selected to compete as a Division Finalist in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Junior Artist Piano Competition.
He earned this opportunity by first winning the Junior Artist Division of the MTNA Statewide competition and will now advance to compete among five other winners from their respective states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
The Division Winner will be announced in mid-January. The Winner of the Division then advances to the National Competition in March. This particular year, due to Covid-19, all levels of the competition are being conducted virtually.
Kang’s 20-minute competition recital consists of the following: Scarlatti, Sonata in A Major, K. 322; Clementi, Sonata in G Major, 1st movement, Op. 25, No. 2; Chopin Nocturne in B Major, Op. 32, No. 1; and the complete Rumanian Folk Dances of Béla Bartók, Sz 56.
Kang is a 7th grader at Los Alamos Middle School, studying with Dr. Madeline Williamson since he began his studies at the age of seven. Now 12 years old, Kang has won several New Mexico piano competitions, including the Dennis Alexander Piano Competition; the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico (PMTNM) District Honors; and the Santa Fe Sonata Contest. In addition, Kang has been awarded Second Place in the same competitions as well as Second in the PMTNM State Honors Competition.
He also is an annual participant in the New Mexico Piano Evaluation Program (PEP) and the International Guild program, where he is nearing completion of their highest levels of technical, harmonic, and repertoire requirements. Kang enjoys reading, math, and science. He also participates in Math Counts and Science Bowl, and enjoys swimming, skiing, cross country running, as well as spending time with family and friends. His parents are Ning Tao and Qinjun Kang.
About Music Teachers National Association
MTNA is a nonprofit organization with more than 22,000 independent and collegiate music teachers committed to advancing the value of music study and music making to society and to supporting the professionalism of music teachers. Founded in 1876, MTNA is the oldest professional music association in the United States.
