A High Note: USD Music Students Win Big at Two Competitions
First place winners at the state level of the Music Teachers National Association competitions held for piano, strings, woodwinds and composition will advance to the West Central regional level competition to be held virtually in early 2026. The MTNA Young Artist Competition in Voice and Brass will take place online in December.
Participating universities included Black Hills State University, Northern State University, Augustana University, SDSU and USD.
The following USD students won prizes in their respective divisions:
MTNA Young Artist Strings
1st Place:
William Brenden (Studio of Sonja Kraus, D.M., associate professor of cello/bass in the USD Department of Music)
Senior in cello performance
Hometown - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
2nd Place:
Sarah Rosales (studio of Kraus)
Graduate student in cello performance
Hometown - El Paso, Texas
Honorable Mention:
Cesar Hernandez (studio of Kraus)
Senior in cello performance
Hometown - Sioux City, Iowa
MTNA Young Artist Woodwinds
1st Place:
Masyn Schutter (studio of C.J. Kocher, D.A., professor in the USD Department of Music)
Junior in saxophone performance and music education
Hometown - Aberdeen, South Dakota
2nd Place:
Anna Peterson (studio of Beverly Gibson, DMA, adjunct instructor in the USD Department of Music)
Junior in musical arts
Hometown - Okoboji, Iowa
SDMTA Young Artist Voice
1st Place:
Cadie Logston (studio of Tracelyn Gesteland, DMA, professor of voice and opera in the USD Department of Music and the Walter A. and Lucy Yoshioka Buhler Endowed Chair)
Graduate student in vocal performance
Hometown - Jefferson City, Missouri
2nd Place:
Clara Norell (studio of Gesteland)
Graduate student in vocal performance
Hometown - Jackson, Tennessee
SDMTA Collegiate Voice - Junior/Senior
Honorable Mention:
Michael Arriaza (studio of Gesteland)
Junior in vocal performance and music education
Hometown - Schuyler, Nebraska
Honorable Mention:
Brooke Hilding (studio of Gesteland)
Senior in English
Hometown - Omaha, Nebraska
Honorable Mention:
Jacob Olson (studio of Gesteland)
Junior in vocal performance
Hometown - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
SDMTA Collegiate Voice - Freshman/Sophomore
2nd Place:
Max Bruguier (studio of Gesteland)
Sophomore in music education
Hometown - Mitchell, South Dakota
Honorable Mention:
Trayden Goodman (studio of Gesteland)
Sophomore in vocal performance
Hometown - Akron, Iowa
SDMTA Collegiate Strings
1st Place:
Abigail Stevens (studio of Kraus)
Sophomore in cello performance
Hometown - Rapid City, South Dakota
2nd Place:
Henry Jones (studio of Kraus)
Sophomore in cello performance
Hometown - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Honorable Mention:
Michael A. Johnson (studio of Kelly Coslet, music adjunct instructor and music lessons adjunct and double bass in the USD Department of Music
Junior in double bass performance and music education
Hometown - Rapid City, South Dakota
About the MTNA
The MTNA national competitions are among the most successful and prestigious student competitions in the country. Each year, thousands of students compete for top prizes and national recognition. MTNA competitions provide educational experiences for students and teachers and recognize talented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence.
The three-tiered Young Artist Performance Competitions begin with State Competitions in piano, strings, woodwinds and composition. The winners/representatives of each state's competitions advance to a video-only Division Competition. Division winners compete in the National Finals at the annual MTNA National Conference.
Voice and Brass Young Artist Performance Competitions are two-tiered competitions: the preliminary round, by video submission only; and the final round, live at the MTNA National Conference. Entrants will compete without regard to the state or division in which they live or take lessons.
SDMTA is an affiliate of MTNA. SDMTA competitions provide opportunities for musical growth for member teachers and their students through recognition of high-performance standards. The SDMTA competition is separate from the MTNA competition, but they are held concurrently at the state conference.
You May Also Like
Beacom School of Business Hosts Fall 2025 Coyote Business Consulting Showcase
The University of South Dakota’s Beacom School of Business hosted its Fall 2025 Coyote Business Consulting Showcase, celebrating a semester of student-driven innovation, real-world problem solving and meaningful partnerships across the region.
Business Analytics Students Make Their Debut at the INFORMS Annual Meeting
A group of graduate students from the University of South Dakota’s Beacom School of Business reached a notable milestone this fall when they became the first USD delegation to attend the INFORMS Annual Meeting, one of the world’s premier conferences in operations research, analytics and data science.
USD Sanford School of Medicine to Host Graduation Convocation Ceremony on May 8
The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine will host its graduation and hooding ceremony on May 8, 2026, at 4 p.m. in Sioux Falls.
