Nena Wideman Piano Competition Takes Place Dec. 3-5

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — The preliminary and semifinal rounds of the 60th Annual Wideman Piano Competition takes place Friday, Dec. 3 through Sunday, Dec. 5 in the Anderson Auditorium of the Hurley School of Music, located on the Centenary College campus.

The final round will be held January 8, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Shreveport.

Sponsored by the Shreveport Symphony Guild and hosted by the Hurley School of Music, this year's competition will include 43 contestants representing schools from all over the United States, as well as 13 other countries. The competition will be judged by nationally and internationally known pianists and conductors.

Schools being represented include Eastman School of Music, the Julliard School, Lee University, Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Lynn University, Manhattan School of Music, McGill University, New England Conservatory and Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow. The competition will be dedicated to the memory of Marcille Young, a long-time chairman of the board of the competition.

Competition will take place during the following hours.

Preliminaries:
*Friday, Dec. 3
11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
2:30 p.m. until 5:45 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 4
9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
2:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Each contestant will play for 15 minutes during the preliminary rounds.

Semifinals:
*Sunday, Dec. 5
1 p.m. or 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. (TBA)

Finals:
*Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011
7:30 p.m.
The three finalists will play their entire concertos with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, with Michael Butterman conducting. Finals will take place at First Baptist Church, Shreveport.

The winner of the competition have the opportunity to perform with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra; South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra; Phillips Collection Sunday Concert Series in Washington, D.C.; the Bossier Jam'n Bread Chamber Series; and recital in Jackson, Miss.

Competition awards include the Gold medal award of the $5,000 and appearances; the Silver medal award of $2,500; the Bronze medal award of $1,500; and Honorable mention award of $1,000.

The Nena Wideman Piano Competition, which began in 1950, has been held annually the first weekend of December, at Centenary College-Hurley School of Music. The name of the annual competition was changed in 1983 after the late Nena Wideman, a former member of the Centenary College piano faculty, for her contributions to the contest.

The event is free and open to the public but contributions are accepted at the door. For more information, call the Hurley School of Music at 318.869.5235.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 373 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.