SOUTHEAST PIANO STUDENT PLACES IN MUSIC COMPETITION

Southeast Missouri State University student Susan Ho, who is pursuing a music degree in piano performance, placed first in the upper piano division of the Missouri Music Teachers Association State Auditions and Competitions recently in Springfield.

"This is really quite an honor," said James Sifferman, Southeast associate professor of music, who is Ho's instructor. "This is very notable because she was competing against the best students in the state, including students from the Kansas City Conservatory and the University of Missouri."

Ho placed first in the lower piano division last year and second in the lower piano division in 1991. Participants are eligible to win first, alternate or honorable mention rankings. Ho is of Kualelumpur, Malaysia.

Southeast senior Akiko Kamimura of Japan also competed in the upper piano division of the competition and Southeast sophomore Yuko Fujiki of Japan competed in the lower division. Neither of the two placed in the competition.

In addition to the piano students, several Southeast trumpet students and an organ student also competed at the event.

Southeast senior Keith Bales of Fredericktown received honorable mention in the Wurlitzer Collegiate Artist Competition, during which he performed a 45-minute organ concert. Southeast senior David Bohnert of Perryville, junior Billy Keys of Cape Girardeau, and junior Kevin Hill of Jackson all performed 15-minute trumpet auditions but did not place. The four, who are all majoring in music education, are students of Marc Fulgham, Southeast instructor of music.

Several students enrolled in the Southeast Missouri Music Academy also participated. The academy is directed by Becky Fulgham.

Adam Bryant, an academy piano student of Fulgham's, competed but did not place. He is a sophomore at Central High School. Two other academy participants, who are piano students of Alicia Wappel, also competed. Dianna Weaver, a sophomore at Central High, received honorable mention in her division. Carol Jackson, a ninth-grader at Central Junior High School, did not place.

The Southeast Missouri Music Academy students advanced to the statewide competition after receiving the highest rating in their respective divisions during district competition in October.