Blair Academy piano students demonstrated their exceptional artistry and dedication at the 2025 Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA) State Competitions, held this summer at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
A total of 15 Blair students earned top honors, including eight first-place winners across solo, ensemble, and concerto categories. Each student qualified to compete at the state level after receiving a Superior rating at regional auditions earlier in the spring.
The TMTA Competitions draw some of the most talented young musicians from across Tennessee each year, with students participating in solo, ensemble, and concerto categories, grouped by grade level.
2025 Blair Academy TMTA Piano Results:
- 3rd Grade Solo
🏆 Winner: Kevin Li (student of Heather Conner) - 4th Grade Solo
🎖 Honorable Mention: Brian Adam (student of Jama Reagan) - 5th Grade Solo
🏆 Winner: Matthew Chen (student of Susan Yang) - 6th Grade Solo
🥈 Runner-up: Stephanie Guo (student of Susan Yang) - 7th Grade Solo
🥈 Runner-up: Tyler Schwartz (student of Jama Reagan)
🎖 Honorable Mention: Sasha Osin (student of Jama Reagan) - 8th Grade Solo
🏆 Winner: Maven Adam (student of Jama Reagan) - 9th Grade Solo
🏆 Winner: Sharvil Kolhatkar (student of Jama Reagan)
🎖 Honorable Mention: Kaite Sha (student of Susan Yang) - 10th Grade Solo
🏆 Winner: Joséphine Borne (student of Craig Nies)
🎖 Honorable Mention: Colin Xie (student of Jama Reagan) - 11th Grade Solo
🏆 Winner: Priscilla Park (student of Jama Reagan)
🎖 Honorable Mention: Sarah Wang (student of Heather Conner) - 12th Grade Solo
🏆 Winner: Abigail Rexer (students of Valerie Middleton & Jama Reagan) - Senior Piano Ensemble
🏆 Winners: Ryan Gardocki & Priscilla Park (students of Jama Reagan) - Senior Concerto Competition
🏆 Runner-up: Joséphine Borne
“It was a genuinely memorable experience to witness so many Blair Academy piano students acknowledged for their talents and diligence this summer at the TMTA Conference”, said Jama Reagan, area chair of academy piano. “Judges, who were from as far away as St. Louis, MO, provided testimony to the special working relationship of Blair’s esteemed faculty with dedicated students and families in and outside of Nashville. Those of us blessed to be a part of the Blair Academy know the nature and possibilities of an environment in which students are motivated and are both nurtured and challenged to pursue excellence. The competition results are a rewarding and meaningful way to validate all that we do during the school year. Hats off to the young musicians who consistently represent themselves and The Blair School through the highest levels of performance.”
The Blair Academy for Music continues to provide high-level precollege music instruction to students of all ages across Middle Tennessee. The Academy’s track record at competitions like TMTA highlights its role as a training ground for the next generation of outstanding performers.