
EMTA hosted a wonderful Virtual Jazz, Rags, and Blues (JRB) Festival and Workshop on February 5, 2022. Thanks so much to our Masterclass Visiting Artist: Dan Taylor and Zoom Workshop Visiting Artist: Ev Stern. In addition, thanks to our EMTA event organizers, Marie Wollam-Mergler and Brandi Bassett . We had some fantastic performances this year and would like to congratulate our JRB Festival Award Winners.
Age division 7-8
Brandon Yang, Teacher: Yelena Balabanova, Best of ages 7-8
Gold seals:
Melba Williams, Teacher: Susan Hurley
Lillian Mergler, Teacher: Marie Wollam-Mergler
Luoyuluo Zeng, Teacher: Mariya Koshkina
Age division 9-10
Yiling Sun, Teacher: Yelena Balabanova, Best of ages 9-10
Gold seals:
Annabelle Lai, Teacher: Valerie Gathright
Ponte Tardif, Teacher: Susan Hurley
Laurel Bjur, Teacher: Valerie Gathright
Age division 11-12
Jaden Shan, Teacher: Yelena Balabanova, Best of ages 11-12
Gold seals:
Seth Zeon, Teacher: Mariya Koshkina
Anvi Babu, Teacher: Mary Beth Rogers
Penelope Funakoshi, Teacher: Valerie Gathright
Logan Lai, Teacher: Valerie Gathright
Jayce Brown, Teacher: Marie Wollam-Mergler
Chloe Mergler, Teacher: Marie Wollam-Mergler
Izaura Emans, Teacher: Sarah Silvia
Age division 13-14
Tilman Seid, Teacher: Yelena Balabanova, Best of ages 13-14
Performing: Gladiolus Rag by Scott Joplin
Courtney Tam, Teacher: Yelena Balabanova, Best of ages 13-14
Performing: Troubled Water by Margaret Bonds
Gold seals:
Anastasia Kanakasabesan, Teacher: Sarah Silvia
Oscar Clingenpeel, Teacher: Frances Goei
William Shirts: Teacher: Frances Goei
Elaina Mergler, Teacher: Marie Wollam-Mergler
Age division 15+
Andrew Jiang, Teacher: Yelena Balabanova, Best of ages 15+
Performing: Serpent’s Kiss by William Bolcom
Lucas Tam, Teacher: Yelena Balabanova, Best of ages 15+
Performing: The Sleepwalker’s Shuffle by William Albright