Jonathan Andino, a junior music student at Northwestern State University, recently won the Violin I category of the Music Teachers National Association South Central Division Competition, which was hosted by Northwestern State.
Andino, the Louisiana winner, competed against students Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. He will compete at the MTNA National Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida March 17-21. Andino is from San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Last year, Andino won the Rapides Concerto Competition after receiving first place in the NSU Concerto Competition. He is a student of Professor of Applied Violin and Viola Dr. Andrej Kurti.
Kurti has won numerous competitions as a performer and said winning a competition requires a good performance level, strong mental and physical endurance, an approach that is both realistic and optimistic and timing the performance peak for the day of the competition.
“It is generally hard to win any competition,” said Kurti. “When you add to the previously mentioned factors talent, discipline, dedication and consistency, the results and artistic achievements can be impressive. Jonathan possesses all attributes mentioned above, he is always open for the constructive criticism, and he never ever complained. It is a joy being his mentor, especially when witnessing rapid and consistent progress and improvement.”
Andino performed “Adagio” from Bach “Sonata No. 1 in G Minor” Sibelius’ “Violin Concerto in D Minor” and Eugene Ysaye’s “Sixth Violin Sonata in E Major.” He will play the same works at the national competition.
“After winning the Rapides and NSU concerto competitions last year Dr. Kurti and I decided to work on a higher level repertoire to participate in a bigger competition, so we decided to participate in the Music Teachers National Association competition,” said Andino, “ We decided not only for a highly technical repertoire but also a very entertaining and impressive one.”
Andino thanked Kurti, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Greg Handel and accompanist Michael Young along with his family for their support.
