Herman’s ‘Appalachian Trio’ Earns Honorable Mention from MTNA Distinguished Composer Competition

Associate Adjunct Professor of Music Theory Matthew Herman, D.M.A., received an honorable mention in the 2020 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Distinguished Composer Competition for their trio “Appalachian Trilogy.” To fulfill part of the submission requirements, a socially distanced and masked premiere was recorded and filmed on the campus of Western Kentucky University by Jeffrey Smith. Performers were Dr. Zachary Lopes and Dr. John Cipolla of Western Kentucky University and Dr. Peter Povey of The University of the South. For this year’s national competition, MTNA awarded one top prize and three honorable mentions.

MTNA 2020 Distinguished Composer of the Year

Peter Van Zandt Lane – Georgia Music Teachers Association
“nodes.branches.loops” (saxophone quartet)

MTNA 2020 Honorable Mention

Matthew Herman – Kentucky Music Teachers Association
“Appalachian Trilogy” (piano trio)

Anna Evas – Virginia Music Teachers Association
“Celestial Garden” (piano)

Seth Custer – South Carolina Music Teachers Association
“ever soaring, ever singing” (violin, saxophone, piano)