On Friday, Feb. 21, , five of Ouachita’s most talented pianists will gather for the Virginia Queen Piano Competition, a longstanding celebration of music and skill. The competition will take place at 2:00 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. It will feature a wide assortment of pieces and styles, including classics such as “Sonetto 104 del Petrarca by Liszt,” “Summer Mood” by native Arkansan Florence Price and an arrangement of Phil Whikam’s “Hymn of Heaven” by participant Carly Hall.
The Virginia Queen Piano Competition is a longstanding staple of the School of Performing Arts. It was created in 1977 by former piano professor Virginia Queen in order to foster relationships between music students and instill in them a love for performing.
Each year, a guest adjudicator is invited to judge the event. This year, the adjudicator will be pianist and Grammy nominee Petronel Malan. Malan has participated in and won several piano competitions herself. To add to her extensive musical resume, she now performs around the globe as a concert pianist, organizing scholarship programs for young musicians.
Manal will judge the participants based on both technique and interpretation. They must exhibit proper posture and poise, while also demonstrating a keen understanding of theory and dynamics. Participating in this year’s competition are biology major Andrew Pierce, music industry major Owen Dodd and worship studies majors Aaron Reed, Carly Hall and Justin McDonald.
Dr. Mary Chung organizes the event, and all piano principles in the School of Performing Arts are required to perform. However, this is not seen as a burden but as an opportunity to enjoy creating music and building connections with other musicians.
“[We] are required to perform in the competition, but we love it so much that I don’t think any of us would have it any other way,” junior Owen Dodd explained.
This is Dodd’s second year performing in the Virginia Queen Competition. “Although I’m a bit nervous, we’ve had a lot of time to prepare, and I can’t wait to cheer my peers on when they perform,” Dodd said.
A cash prize is awarded to first, second and third place. However, each participant receives the invaluable experience of performing and honing their skill, as well as the opportunity to build relationships with the other competitors.
The Virginia Queen Piano Competition is open for all OBU students and the broader Arkadelphia community, and Dr. Chung encourages them to attend. Those unable to attend the competition can still enjoy beautiful music at Petronel Manal’s performance on Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. Manal will perform pieces including but not limited to Hadyn, Liszt and Florence. Either event is sure to deepen both understanding and love of music for both performer and listener.
