Alexandra (Sasha) Rice, a 12-year-old seventh grader at Ladue Middle School will travel to the University of Colorado at Boulder – Boulder, Colorado, in January to compete as a Division Finalist in the Music Teachers National Association Junior High Piano Competition. Sasha, the daughter of David and Elena Rice, earned this opportunity after winning the Missouri State MTNA Junior High Piano Competition for 11-14-year-olds held at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri on Nov. 5, 2011.
Sasha has been studying piano for six years and is currently a student of Zena Ilyashov at the Community Music School of Webster University. Ms. Rice is a past multi-year winner of her respective grade level in the annual Missouri Music Teacher Association Pre-Collegiate State Piano Audition Competitions. In April of 2010, she was the winner for her age group, Level II (9-11yr), at the 22nd Annual Starr Young Artist Piano Competition held at the University of Arkansas.
Sasha enjoys reading, math and science and is a student participant in The Danforth Plant Science Center Mentoring program.
The West Central Division Junior High Piano MTNA Competition will take place on Jan. 13-15, 2012, during the MTNA West Central Conference. The winner of this competition will compete in the National Finals during the MTNA National Conference in New York City in March.