The road to musical excellence is paved with many hurdles that must be overcome. The journey is filled with years of relentless study and hours of practice, practice, practice. On Sunday, October 21, at 3:00 p.m. in Peachtree Presbyterian Church’s Kellett Chapel, the Atlanta Steinway Society will honor the organization’s 2012 Collegiate Scholarship recipients during a recital featuring this year’s winners.

Lydia Nichols, winner of The Henry Steinway Trophy in honor of Judy C. Godwin, is a student with Dr. Carlisle at Berry College. A native of Saint Simons Island, GA, Lydia began studying the piano at the age of four. She won the Mozart Society Award six consecutive years and has participated in the Governors Honors Program. “Being a piano major in college was a no brainer decision for me” states Nichols. “I feel incredibly blessed and honored to be a recipient of this award. It will sincerely help me to achieve my goal of becoming either a Music Theory Teacher or a Music Technician”. Ms. Nichols’ recital performance will include the first movement of Ludwig von Beethoven’s Sonata in C Major, Opus 53 and Ballade in A-flat Major, Opus 47 by Frederic Chopin. Nichols also lists Sergei Rachmaninoff as one of her favorite composers.

Diane Turner, winner of The Henry Mancini Trophy 2012 in honor of Kiki Van Meter, is the student of Dr.Jerico Vasquez and currently a Junior Piano Performance and Pedagogy major at Shorter University in Rome, Ga. A McDonough, GA native, her list of recent performances includes Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D Minor, K.466 with the Rome Symphony Orchestra as winner of the Rome Symphony Concerto Competition. Diane has traveled nationally and internationally as a member of the renowned Shorter Chorale. She is an active member of the Shorter University MTNA Student Chapter and teaches beginner piano students through the Shorter Preparatory Department. She also serves as pianist for Rome’s Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. Turner greatly looks forward to continuing her musical studies under Dr. Vasquez and the rest of the Shorter music faculty. “I aspire to impart the love of music to young musicians through teaching and performance” states Turner. She has selected to perform the second and third movements of Ludwig von Beethoven’s Sonata in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”, Franz Liszt’s Waldesrauschern and Fantasia by Benjamin Lees.

The recital is free of charge and there will be a reception afterwards with refreshments.

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