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Shannahan Wins in Statewide Piano Competition
6/30/2008
 Michelle Shannahan, a University of St. Thomas piano performance music major, was a top prize winner at the Texas Young Artist Collegiate piano competition sponsored by the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA). Shannahan won third prize, and was presented a plaque and monetary prize at the winner’s recital on June 15.
The state competition was held at the TMTA convention at the Hyatt Regency downtown Houston, Saturday, June 14. She performed a 30-minute program by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Rachmaninoff. District winners representing six Texas areas compete at the state level. Shannahan represented southeastern Texas, District V. She qualified for the state competition by winning the local Houston competition in January.
Performances were critiqued by five judges from around the country. One of Shannahan’s judges, Panayis Lyras, a silver medal Cliburn winner, said Shannahan’s performance was, “beautiful, lovely lyrical playing, wonderful shading.”
Shannahan is a piano student of Paul Krystofiak, UST adjunct professor of piano.
“This is the largest state music convention in the country.” Krystofiak said. “This was a wonderful opportunity to meet more than 500 music teachers from throughout the state of Texas, as well as over 5,000 students and their family members. It is great that UST can compete on this high level among music students from major music schools in Texas. This is a huge honor for UST.”
Shannahan plans to attend graduate school when she graduates from UST in May 2009.
“It was a wonderful experience and I was really glad to participate,” Shannahan said. “It helped me to achieve a new level in my playing.”
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