The MTNA National Competitions are among the most respected student performance competitions in the country. Every year, thousands of young musicians gather to compete. The purpose of the competition is to give students meaningful performance and learning experiences while recognizing excellence in music study and teaching.
This fall, students from both the Blair School of Music and the Blair Academy represented Vanderbilt at the Fall 2025 MTNA and TMTA State Competitions, held live at Lipscomb University. For the Blair School of Music, it was a unique moment. Blair Academy students and collegiate students had the chance to watch one another compete, forming an atmosphere that was both supportive and inspiring.
Cornelia Heard, professor of violin, Valere Blair Potter Chair, and area chair of strings and harp, noted that the experience goes beyond performance. “The competitions offer real growth. Students learn how to prepare under pressure, take feedback and cheer for their peers,” she said. “Our younger students see what is possible when they continue to grow at Blair.”
Vanderbilt students delivered exceptional results across divisions. Blair students earned the top award in six of the ten categories represented at the competition. Of special note, there were fourteen piano awards available across all piano divisions, and Blair students received twelve of them.
“Fall MTNA and TMTA Collegiate/Adult competitions provide the opportunity for Blair School of Music students, ages 11-adult, to experience preparing for a program presented at the highest level,” says Jama Reagan, area chair of academy piano. “This provides an environment for these students to push themselves in ways that regular studio recitals and other competitions do not. It is a testimony to the Blair School and its Faculty’s commitment to excellence that so many Blair students received awards this year.”
Claire H Lee, alternate winner in the Young Artist Strings division, described the experience as both challenging and rewarding. “It was a wonderful experience preparing a variety of pieces and sharing them with the judges. Participating in MTNA motivated me to take my playing to its highest level and express what I truly had to say through my performance.”
Vanderbilt University’s Results
MTNA Young Artist Piano
Winner: Taylor Van Ryckeghem, student of Arunesh Nadgir and Jama Reagan
Alternate: Edward Henneman, student of Heather Conner
Honorable Mention: Thomas Violini, student of Heather Conner
Honorable Mention: Spencer McKee, student of Heather Conner
MTNA Junior Piano
Winner: Tyler Schwartz, student of Heather Conner and Jama Reagan
Alternate: Alexander Osin, student of Jama Reagan
MTNA Senior Piano
Winner: Juliette Berry, student of Amy Dorfman
Alternate: Dieu Truong, student of Heather Conner
Honorable Mention: Colin Xie, student of Jama Reagan
Honorable Mention: Emily Zhou, student of Craig Nies
TMTA Collegiate Piano
Winner: Jonathan Lee, student of Jama Reagan
Honorable Mention: Mary Pinkevich, student of Jama Reagan
MTNA Young Artist Strings
Winner: Iris Shepherd, student of Cornelia Heard
Alternate: Claire Lee, student of Carolyn Huebl
Honorable Mention: Abraham Kim, student of Felix Wang
Honorable Mention: Avagail Hulbert, student of Cornelia Heard
MTNA Junior Strings
Honorable Mention: Hannah Chou, student of Christina McGann
MTNA Senior Strings
Winner: Eliana Kovacova, student of Carolyn Huebl
Alternate: Kelsie Wiegman, student of Christina McGann
Honorable Mention: Shayla McCullough, student of Christina McGann
MTNA Senior Woodwinds
Alternate: Stella Graham, student of Jessica Dunnavant
Honorable Mention: Katie Sha, student of Jessica Dunnavant