MSMS-MUW Student Wins State Piano Title

Carino

COLUMBUS, Miss. — Joy Carino, a piano student in Mississippi University for Women’s music department, placed first at the Mississippi Music Teachers Association Pre-College Competition.

The competition, also known as MMTA Pre College State Auditions, was held at Millsaps College in Jackson.

Carino is an 11^th grader enrolled at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, and she is taking piano lessons through The W’s music department as part of the dual enrollment program between the two institutions.

“This is one of the highest accomplishments a pre-college piano student can achieve in the state of Mississippi,” said assistant professor of music Dr. Valentin Bogdan, Carino’s applied piano instructor.  “This is a very competitive event.”

According to Dr. Bogdan, to qualify for the state finals, Carino had to pass an audition organized by the local Music Teachers Association Chapter. Only a select group of students were chosen to be part of the state finals.

Bogdan added, “At the state level, there were 10 other pianists competing in Joy’s age category, and the fact that she has placed first, is a great success for her personally, and for the MUW music department.”

The Mississippi Music Teachers Association was founded in 1955 and it represents the Mississippi Division of the Music Teachers National Association. It is one of the preeminent music teaching organizations in the state. Its members include college music professors, independent teachers, church musicians and college music students.