Press release
Emma Steiger, 6th grade daughter of Greg and Sue Steiger, Bucyrus, was declared the winner of the Elementary Division of this year’s Buckeye Competition of the Middle West District of Ohio Music Teachers’ Association held at Reed Hall, OSU-Lima April 30. She played Blue Mood Waltz by Austin, Mozart’s Variations on “Ah! Vous dirai-je Maman,” Pink by Starer, and Sonatina in F, op. 161 no. 1 by Diabelli. Winners in each age group are invited to play in the state finals at Malone University in June. Ayla McKibben, daughter of Brad and Krista McKibben, Bucyrus, received the elementary honorable mention.
Mason McKibben, 8th grade son of Brad and Krista McKibben, was the Junior High School winner. He played Diabelli’s Sonatina in Bb, opus 168 no. 4, Consolation by Mendelssohn, Valse Etude by Gillock, and Caccia by Dello Joio. Madalyn Johnson, 7th grade daughter of Mellissa Johnson, Bucyrus, and Matt Johnson, Cincinnati, was named the Junior High School honorable mention.
Samantha Strickland, 11th grade daughter of Drs. Todd and Rebecca Strickland, Bucyrus, was the honorable mention recipient in Senior High School. The winner was Ryan Strickler of Bluffton, a student of Krysti Schey.
The 20 students of Bucyrus Talent Education are having a busy 2017. In February the students of Donna Kurtz collaborated with Mary Ann Basinger’s Bucyrus Suzuki Strings in a concert of Saint-Saens “Carnival of the Animals.” In March they played in a festival of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs. May and June will conclude the school year with Royal Conservatory of Music exams, and National Guild of Piano Teachers auditions.
The annual Spring Recital will be Friday night, May 5, 7:30 pm at Good Hope Lutheran Church, 129 Poplar Sr., Bucyrus. Participants will be Gillian and Tessa Spore, kindergarten, of Nevada. James Hoffman, 2nd grade, of Canton, Ben Jones, 4th grade, of Marysville, Lucy Myers, 5th grade, of Galion, Ayla and Lynae McKibben, 5th grade of Bucyrus, Emma Steiger, 6th grade of Bucyrus, Madalyn Johnson, 7th grade of Bucyrus, Sheba Sulser, 7th grade of Bucyrus, Alie Hall, 7th grade, of Galion, Nolan McKibben, 7th grade, of Bucyrus, Sophie Lucas, 7th grade, of Nevada, Owen Fruth, 7th grade of Bucyrus, Evan Stover, 8th grade of Ashley, Mason McKibben, 8th grade, of Bucyrus, Kat Hall, 10th grade of Nevada, Brevin Balliett, 10th grade of Crestline, Samantha Strickland, 11th grade of Bucyrus, and Will Lucas, 12th grade of Nevada.
The students will play works by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Diabelli, Chopin, Tchaikowsky and others. Your presence will encourage these fine young musicians!