January 29, 2018 (Lynchburg, Va.) - Four music majors from Belhaven's String Program competed against some of the South's most prestigious universities and earned top honors. The Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) Southern Division hosted the competition at Liberty University in Virginia, January 13-15.
Daniel Jones, a sophomore violin major, won second place in the Southern Young Artist String Performance, competing against students from Vanderbilt University, Columbus State University and East Carolina University.
Belhaven's student string quartet held their own against students from Vanderbilt University and Liberty University, securing a third-place award. Quartet members include Jessica Schmidt, senior violin major, Zak Joyner, senior violin major, Daniel Jones, and Rebekah Miller, a junior cello major.
"It's a very tough competition, showcasing the best of the best, and I am very proud of our students and their accomplishments,” said Belhaven Professor of Music Song Xie. “I believe these competitions are an important aspect of learning and they inspire our students to grow as musicians, helping them strive toward excellence.”
The MTNA National Student Competitions are among the most distinguished competitions in the country. Each year, thousands of students compete for top prizes and national recognition.