Musical Arts Center student advances to nationals

Thomas Steigerwald, a talented young pianist and student of the Musical Arts Center, will compete at the Music Teachers National Association championship finals in Albuquerque, New Mexico March 20-22.  The 16-year-old Uvalde resident and 2009 Senior Piano Performance Competition winner advanced to the championship finals after competing against hundreds of piano students at several levels. 

Already named first-place winner at the state level and within the Music Teachers National Association South Central Division, Steigerwald is now considered one of the seven best young pianists in the country.  For the past 10 years, the teen has studied piano under the direction of Kenneth Thompson, executive director of the Musical Arts Center of San Antonio, Inc.  Based at 12732 Cimarron Path, with a second location at 700 E. Sonterra Blvd, the Musical Arts Center offers piano, guitar, voice, violin, flute and percussion lessons for children, teens and adults.     

"Texas is one of the top piano states in the country,” says Thompson.  “When you're competing at the state level in Texas, you are really competing at a national level because there are people you are competing with in Texas who win national events.”

Steigerwald will compete against six challengers hailing from Michigan, New York, Washington, Virginia, California and Iowa at the national competition.  The winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize and an invitation to appear on the National Public Radio program, From the Top.  With more than 700,000 loyal listeners each week, From the Top showcases America’s best young musicians.  In 2008, Steigerwald was one of only three Texans selected to perform on the show.    

Born into a musical family, Steigerwald has a brother studying piano at University of Texas in Austin and a sister who also plays and composes.  “I don't have a set amount of practice time I do a day," says Steigerwald. "I just practice as much as possible. If I'm not busy doing something, I'm at the piano."

Steigerwald's repertoire for this month’s national competition will include China Gates by John Adams, Mozart’s Rondo in D Major K.485, Gargoyles Op. 29 (Complete) by Lowell Liebermann and Balakirev’s Islamey.  According to Thompson, Islamey is one of the most difficult piano pieces ever written. 

For more information about the Musical Arts Center, call 490-1500 or visit www.musicalartscenter.com.