On March 30th, Utah Baroque Ensemble hosted its 17th annual Levente Medveczky Student Scholarship Competition. The Competition is open to both vocal and instrumental students from grades 9-12 who reside in Utah County (or students who take lessons from a teacher living in Utah County) performing a Baroque period piece. This year, seven finalists were selected from sixteen video auditions submitted by entrants to the competition. Three younger performers were also given the opportunity to gain experience through not-competitive exhibition performances.
This year’s winner was Michael Heward, an 12th Grader at Lone Peak High School. He performed Prelude from English Suite No. 2 in A minor (BWV 807) by J.S. Bach. He is a student of Maria Heward.
Michael (Mikey) started studying piano at 4 years old. He has always been a dedicated, hard-working, committed and respectful student, even though his teacher is also his mom. Mikey is the oldest of 6 children. He is a Senior at Lone Peak High School and is currently playing soccer on the LPHS varsity soccer team. Mikey applies the tenacity learned from working on his piano and soccer drills broadly and also maintains a 4.0 GPA. He works hard in several AP classes and especially enjoys AP Statistics. Some recent piano highlights have been performing with the LPHS Jazz Band in New Orleans, competing annually in the local Encore Solo Festival, accompanying friends for their Solo and Ensemble performances, playing for church and seminary, and performing an exciting benefit concert duet with his good friend Zach. After high school, he plans to attend college at BYU and serve a church mission.
This year, a second place winner was also selected. For the first time, we enjoyed an organ performance! Our judges witnessed the performance live at a nearby venue, and a recording of the performance was shown at the concert.
Matthew Simper played Prelude in G Major (BWV 568) by J.S. Bach. He is a student of Dr. Mark Campbell.
Matthew is a 16 year old homeschooled student. He is the only boy in his family with three sisters- two older and one younger. Matthew enjoys singing bass in the Men’s Choir at Manti High School and taking organ lessons at Snow College with Dr. Mark Campbell. He is also an accomplished pianist, having his musical roots in the Let’s Play Music program, followed by 9 years of private study. Besides music, Matthew enjoys all things engineering, performing in local theatrical productions, playing video games and board games, baking, and participating in western swing dancing at the high school.
Finalists
This year’s participants (l to r) Emerson Amonett (piano – exhibition performance), Elizabeth Mason (piano), Tessa Knotts (piano), Michael Heward (piano – Grand Prize Winner), Colin Rule (piano), Matthew Simper (organ – Second Place Winner), Ryan Allgaier (piano – exhibition performance), Sarah Jane Henrie (piano), Kathryn Rowley (piano), Cecily Kerr (violin – exhibition performance)