University of Alabama at Birmingham
Jacob Skiles and Dina Kasman piano students were named winners in two divisions and overall at the Alabama Music Teachers Association State Collegiate Auditions, held April 5-6 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
The AMTA is affiliated with Music Teachers National Association.
Freshman Dina Kasman of Vestavia, Alabama, won the lower college division after performing works by Bach, Haydn and Stravinsky. UAB freshman Carmen Williams of Birmingham and sophomore Connor Lancaster of Calera, Alabama, were awarded honorable mentions. Williams played works by Bach, Haydn and Liszt, while Lancaster played works by Beethoven, Schubert and Scriabin.
Junior Jacob Skiles of Jacksonville, Florida, won the upper college division after performing works by Schubert, Rachmaninoff and Shchedrin. Senior Zoe Willis of Birmingham was awarded an honorable mention for her performance of works by Bach, Mozart and Medtner.
Kasman was named the Overall Winner and honored with the Alabama State Recognition Award. Kasman was chosen from all groups of students, including graduate students, for this award.
Kasman is a music major in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music and is in the UAB Honors College’s University Honors Program. Skiles is a music major in the Honors College’s Science and Technology Honors Program.
All are students of artist-in-residence and Distinguished Professor of Piano Yakov Kasman, DMA. Lancaster is a student of Tatiana Kasman, adjunct faculty and director of the UAB Piano Ensemble.
The winners will perform at recitals and masterclasses during the AMTA State Conference in Huntsville from May 30-June 1.
In March, Dina Kasman won the Birmingham Music Club Scholarship auditions, in piano and overall.