SOUTHEAST PIANIST PLACES 4TH IN YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION AT MEMPHIS

Southeast Missouri State pianist Yuko Fujiki distinguished herself with a fourth place finish in the Young Artists Competition in Memphis, Tenn., recently.

The competition was sponsored by the Beethoven Club of Memphis.

Fujiki, a junior international student from Japan, was competing against musicians from a 250-mile radius encompassing several states and reaching as far north as St. Louis.

"She was competing against artists up to 32 years of age, which means there were probably some professionals in the contest," said James Sifferman, an associate professor who teaches Fujiki at Southeast Missouri State.

"This is the first time we've entered anyone in this contest, so that says something about her ability as a pianist," said Sifferman. "She had to be on a fairly high level for us to even consider entering her. I thought she did very well to finish fourth in the competition."

Fujiki indicated she was somewhat surprised to learn she surpassed some musicians who had more experience. "I was surprised because a lot of the musicians were older," she said. "It was a good experience for me."

Fujiki, who won the piano concerto competition at Southeast during February, played music by Mozart, Chopin and Ravel during the competition in Memphis. She also finished second in last year's Missouri Music Teacher's competition.

The 22-year-old pianist indicated she plans to return to her home near Tokyo to begin a teaching career upon graduating from Southeast Missouri State next year.