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Delta State Musician Participates in Regional Music Competition

By February 1, 2013General

 

PHOTO:  From left, Dr. Eddie Elsey, Competition Judge and Professor of Low Brass at the University of North Alabama, Josiah Andrews, and Dr. Douglas Mark, MMTA Brass Competition Chair and Professor of Low Brass at Delta State University.

 

Delta State senior Josiah Andrews, a music education major from Summit, recently competed in the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Brass Division regional competition hosted by the University of North Carolina – Greensboro.  Andrews was the lone brass representative from Mississippi.
                
Brass musicians between the ages of 19-26 compete annually in the Young Artist Brass Division of MTNA competition. Andrews became involved with the competition through private lessons with his tuba professor and advisor, Dr. Douglas Mark.   

Dr. Mark stated that students from the Delta State Department of Music participate in a variety competition and performance settings throughout the year.  “I am pleased that Josiah was able to have the experience of competing at the regional level.  We encourage all our students to take part in state, regional and national conferences and competitions,” said Mark.
                
“I received my music before the fall semester of 2012,” said Andrews.  “I practiced three pieces by myself for the longest and then paired up with my accompanist Dr. Kumiko Shimizu of our own music department.  I had to listen to recordings, plunk out notes of my part with the piano, and, of course, practice the recital with my tuba.  After that process, I was able to work with Dr. Shimizu to build the recital program to perform for our music department’s Recitals and Activities class before even reaching the competition. I’ve had help from several faculty members in the music department.  I have to say thank you to all of the Zeigel family.”
                
Andrews noted that he has been playing the tuba for 11 years. “I’m a music education student with instruments being my focus and I’ve learned to play several instruments in the brass family, woodwind family, percussion family, string family, and piano.  I’ve also been able to join the choir program since I’ve been at Delta State.”
                
According to Andrews, first round of the competition filled him with mixed emotions. “[I was] nervous, anxious, prepared, etc.  There were a lot of emotions mixed in the pot of my consciousness.  It was a relief after I finished, that is, until I learned that I won.  That just raised more questions of how could I travel to this competition or how can I push my recital to be even better.”
                
Andrews added that he was excited to represent Mississippi in the next round of the competition.  “I’ve been preparing myself like I have before.  The only addition that I’ve done is to gather comments from people on my performance such as friends, family, peers, and faculty. If I win this part, I leave for nationals in Anaheim, CA.”