Lawrence University Musicians Shine in National, State Competitions

APPLETON, WIS. -- Lawrence University's Will Samson, tuba, earned second-place honors at the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference's Arnold Jacobs Mock Orchestra Audition held the last week of May at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

A senior from Appleton, Samson was one of 10 semifinalists invited to the conference's competition from a national pool of taped nominations. He was one of four performers to advance to the final round, where competitors played both solo excerpts as well as with the trombone section from the North Carolina Symphony. Samson, who studies in the studio of Charles Guy, received a second-place prize of $500 for his performance. The international competition is open to all non-professional tuba players of any age.

In a separate competition, two Lawrence juniors finished first and second at the recent Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Collegiate Badger Piano Competition held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Jim James, Aurora, Iowa, earned first-place honors, while Rachel Bittner, St. Paul, Minn., earned second-place honors. James, a student of associate professor Michael Kim, received $200 for his winning performance. Bittner plays in the studio of associate professor Anthony Padilla.

The WMTA Badger Piano Competition is open to all college-age piano students from Wisconsin or those attending a Wisconsin college. Performers in the competition are required to play a 30-minute program featuring at least three contrasting styles.