Harris Music Contest
2024 Date to be Announced Soon!
2023 Contest Date was March 4, 2023
Concert & Awards Ceremony: March 5, 2023 at 2pm at the Paramount Theatre
Registration is now closed for our 2023 Contest
Top Photos L-R: Andrew Keenan (ADH, 2017); Gabby Wang (ADH, 2017); MarySue Hormel Harris (2013); Contestants (2013 )
Middle Photos L-R: Blake Zimmerli (2019); Tedd Lund (2019) Contestants (2019); George Yang (2022)
Bottom Photos L-R: Contestants (2020); Emma Stanley (2020); Maria Vu (2020); Emma Grush (2020)
Middle Photos L-R: Blake Zimmerli (2019); Tedd Lund (2019) Contestants (2019); George Yang (2022)
Bottom Photos L-R: Contestants (2020); Emma Stanley (2020); Maria Vu (2020); Emma Grush (2020)
In 2012 the Harris Piano Competition was created as a way to further music appreciation and education for area youth. The Competition is named after MarySue Hormel Harris who, through a trust, provides funds for the Hormel Historic Home to be able to offer music programs to the community. Mrs. Harris is the granddaughter of Ben F. Hormel who was George's youngest brother.
Special guest for the events have included MarySue Hormel Harris, Dr. Andrew Hisey of the University of St. Thomas, and Mory Ortman, a professional musician from New York and Peggy Reich, concert pianist. These guests have shared their career paths and offered suggestions on how young musicians can pursue a life of music both professionally and recreationally.
Special guest for the events have included MarySue Hormel Harris, Dr. Andrew Hisey of the University of St. Thomas, and Mory Ortman, a professional musician from New York and Peggy Reich, concert pianist. These guests have shared their career paths and offered suggestions on how young musicians can pursue a life of music both professionally and recreationally.
Thank you to the Historic Paramount Theatre for allowing us to use their beautiful space for
making the day go smoothly.
making the day go smoothly.
2023 Contest Top Performers
Piano Honorees
Ages 6-8
Honorable Mention: Xander Chicas & Miles Neithammer
Runner Up: Stella Vu
Highland Jig by Mary Leaf
Champion: Rose Kenyon
In The Hall Of The Mountain King by Grieg
Ages 9-11
Honorable Sophia Frank & John Kenyon
Runner Up: Chit Su
Arabesque by Burgmuller
Champion: Levi Phillips
Phantasietanz by Schumann
Ages 12-14
Honorable Mention: Delaney Ferguson & Ellie Harthan
Runner Up: Maria Vu
Reverie by Debussy
Champion: Claire Pepper
Dragonfly by Melody Bober
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Abigail Brand & David Vu
Runner Up: Meicy Liu
Melodie by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel
Champion: Abraham Phillips
Rhapsody Op.79 No.2 by Brahms
Melodic Instrument Honorees
Ages 6-10
Honorable Mention: Maxwell Harthan (Violin) & Eve Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Ian Krusemark (Violin)
Concerto No.5 in D major, Op.22, 1st Mvt by F. Seitz
Champion: Julia Neithammer (Violin)
Humoresque by A. Dvorak
Ages 11-12
Honorable Mention: Jude Krusemark (Violin) & Callie McRae (Violin)
Runner Up: Charlotte Collins (Violin)
Minuet 1 & 2 by Bach
Champion: Charlotte Collins (Marimba)
Gypsy Rondo by Haydn
Ages 13-14
Honorable Mention: Ella Diaz (Marimba) & Sophia Squire (Flute)
Runner Up: Claire Squire (Violin)
Concertino Op.15 by Ferdinand Kuchler
Champion: Ellie Harthan (Flute)
Adagio K 285 by Mozart
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Emma Stanley (Flute) & Shepard Goossen (Cello)
Runner Up: David Vu (Cello)
Concerto in C Major Mvt. 1 by Haydn
Champion: Blake Zimmerli (Marimba)
Land by Takatsugu Muramatsu
Special thanks to the music teachers who encouraged their students to study, practice and participate:
Cheryl Berglund, Kathryn Bisanti, Aimee Chalmers, Jacob Crosby, Erin Grush, Brian Johnson, Sonia Larson, Soojin Lee, Loraine Mix, Amalie Neithammer, Nikki Phillips, Sue Radloff, Peggy Reich, Jenny Steele, Lorene Strobel
Piano Honorees
Ages 6-8
Honorable Mention: Xander Chicas & Miles Neithammer
Runner Up: Stella Vu
Highland Jig by Mary Leaf
Champion: Rose Kenyon
In The Hall Of The Mountain King by Grieg
Ages 9-11
Honorable Sophia Frank & John Kenyon
Runner Up: Chit Su
Arabesque by Burgmuller
Champion: Levi Phillips
Phantasietanz by Schumann
Ages 12-14
Honorable Mention: Delaney Ferguson & Ellie Harthan
Runner Up: Maria Vu
Reverie by Debussy
Champion: Claire Pepper
Dragonfly by Melody Bober
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Abigail Brand & David Vu
Runner Up: Meicy Liu
Melodie by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel
Champion: Abraham Phillips
Rhapsody Op.79 No.2 by Brahms
Melodic Instrument Honorees
Ages 6-10
Honorable Mention: Maxwell Harthan (Violin) & Eve Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Ian Krusemark (Violin)
Concerto No.5 in D major, Op.22, 1st Mvt by F. Seitz
Champion: Julia Neithammer (Violin)
Humoresque by A. Dvorak
Ages 11-12
Honorable Mention: Jude Krusemark (Violin) & Callie McRae (Violin)
Runner Up: Charlotte Collins (Violin)
Minuet 1 & 2 by Bach
Champion: Charlotte Collins (Marimba)
Gypsy Rondo by Haydn
Ages 13-14
Honorable Mention: Ella Diaz (Marimba) & Sophia Squire (Flute)
Runner Up: Claire Squire (Violin)
Concertino Op.15 by Ferdinand Kuchler
Champion: Ellie Harthan (Flute)
Adagio K 285 by Mozart
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Emma Stanley (Flute) & Shepard Goossen (Cello)
Runner Up: David Vu (Cello)
Concerto in C Major Mvt. 1 by Haydn
Champion: Blake Zimmerli (Marimba)
Land by Takatsugu Muramatsu
Special thanks to the music teachers who encouraged their students to study, practice and participate:
Cheryl Berglund, Kathryn Bisanti, Aimee Chalmers, Jacob Crosby, Erin Grush, Brian Johnson, Sonia Larson, Soojin Lee, Loraine Mix, Amalie Neithammer, Nikki Phillips, Sue Radloff, Peggy Reich, Jenny Steele, Lorene Strobel
Questions? Contact our Music Coordinator, Lana Kenyon, at piano@hormelhistorichome.org.