University of Louisiana at Monroe student Allyson Crow finished with a first-place flurry in the 85th Caudell Cup Piano Competition at Louisiana College in Pineville Saturday, March 7.

Richard Seiler (Associate Professor of Music and Keyboard Chair) and Allyson Crow (junior piano performance major) holding the first place trophy from the 2009 Caudell Cup Piano Competition in Pineville. Photo provided courtesy Seiler.

Crow's program for the competition included a movement each from Franz Joseph Haydn's “Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI: 50” and Franz Schubert's “Drei Klavierstucke.”

A junior piano performance major from Monroe, Crow has been studying with Richard Seiler, ULM associate professor and Keyboard chair, for almost three years.

Seiler expressed his pride in Crow’s achievements. “I have watched her grow more and more into a young artist. She has devoted an enormous amount of hard work and dedication towards her music and becoming an accomplished pianist. I am very excited for Allyson and her accomplishment."

One of the oldest and most prestigious awards at Louisiana College is the Caudell Cup, presented for excellence in piano performance. The annual competition began in 1922; it did not occur from 2005-2007. It gained its start courtesy of the late Kite and Maxie (Pat) Caudell and was endowed in 1981 by the Pineville Kiwanis Club.

Crow will present her junior degree recital Thursday, April 9, at 11 a.m. in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall. Her program will include the works of J. S. Bach, Haydn, Chopin, and Prokofiev. The public is invited.




Photo Courtesy