Harris Music Contest
March 7, 2026
A Concert & Awards Ceremony will follow the contest at 4pm
and is open to the public at Austin High School's Knowlton Auditorium.
Light refreshments to be served
when Concert & Awards Ceremony concludes.
Registration is now open; deadline is Friday, February 13, 2026
Please note that for our 2026 Harris Music Contest registration, there are two steps to register:
1) Complete the registration form for each participant
During Step One, the total registration price will show as $0.00. During Step Two the price for registration will be reflected.
2) Pay for registration for each participant
1) Complete the registration form for each participant
During Step One, the total registration price will show as $0.00. During Step Two the price for registration will be reflected.
2) Pay for registration for each participant
Step One to register:
Step Two to complete and pay for registration:
In 2012 our organization created the Harris Piano Contest as a way to further music appreciation and education for area youth. As the years went on, we've added melodic instruments to the competition and it was renamed the Harris Music Contest. The Contest honors the memory and legacy of MarySue Hormel Harris, who continues to provide support for the Hormel Historic Home, even after her passing, to offer music programming to the community through their Music & Education Missions. MarySue was a granddaughter of Ben F. Hormel who was George A. Hormel's youngest brother.
Special guests for the past Contests 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 guests for the past Contests 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 MacPhail Center for Music Austin
for allowing us to use their beautiful space for this year's concert & awards ceremony!
for allowing us to use their beautiful space for this year's concert & awards ceremony!
2024 Harris Music Contest Top Performers
Piano Category Honorees
Ages 6-8
Honorable Mention: Penelope Frank & Andrew Carlton
Runner Up: Abigail Emilio
Little Flower Girl of Paris by William Gillock
Champion: Stella Vu
Main at Midnight by Eric Baumgartner
Ages 9-11
Honorable Mention: Xinzhu Xiang & Lucille Short
Runner Up: Julianna Short
Selva Tropical by Wynn-Anne Rossi
Champion: Simon Phillips
Sonatina in C Major by Friedrich Kuhlau
Ages 12-14
Honorable Mention: Jude Krusemark & Levi Phillips
Runner Up: Sophia Frank
Sonatina in A Minor, Op. 88, No. 3 Allegro Burlesco by Kuhlau
Champion: Claire Pepper
The Romanian Folk Dances by Bella Bartok
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Ellie Harthan & Maria Vu
Runner Up: Meicy Liu
Sonatina by J.L. Dussek
Champion: Abraham Phillips
Rondo Capriccioso Op.14 by Mendelssohn
Melodic Instrument Category Honorees
Ages 7-10
Honorable Mention: Breslyn Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Eve Krusemark (Violin)
Minuet 2 by Bach
Champion: Simon Phillips (Marimba)
Petite Mallet Suite by Montecalvo
Ages 11-12
Honorable Mention: Ian Krusemark (Violin) & Bo Korfhage (Violin)
Runner Up: Owen Harthan (trombone)
Ancient Ayre by Barrett
Champion: Levi Phillips (Violin)
Concerto in A Minor Op. 3, No. 6 by Vivaldi
Ages 13-14
Honorable Mention: Marcus Mielke (Cello) & Jude Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Maisy Sanford (Violin)
The Boy Paginini by Mollenhauer
Champion: Claire Squire (Violin)
Gigue from Sonata in D minor by F.M. Veracini
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Emma Stanley (Flute) & Namo Afanou (flute)
Runner Up: Cortney Christianson (Marimba)
Gituno by Gomez
Champion: Dori Olana (violin)
Concerto in C Minor by Bach
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 Category Honorees
Ages 6-8
Honorable Mention: Penelope Frank & Andrew Carlton
Runner Up: Abigail Emilio
Little Flower Girl of Paris by William Gillock
Champion: Stella Vu
Main at Midnight by Eric Baumgartner
Ages 9-11
Honorable Mention: Xinzhu Xiang & Lucille Short
Runner Up: Julianna Short
Selva Tropical by Wynn-Anne Rossi
Champion: Simon Phillips
Sonatina in C Major by Friedrich Kuhlau
Ages 12-14
Honorable Mention: Jude Krusemark & Levi Phillips
Runner Up: Sophia Frank
Sonatina in A Minor, Op. 88, No. 3 Allegro Burlesco by Kuhlau
Champion: Claire Pepper
The Romanian Folk Dances by Bella Bartok
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Ellie Harthan & Maria Vu
Runner Up: Meicy Liu
Sonatina by J.L. Dussek
Champion: Abraham Phillips
Rondo Capriccioso Op.14 by Mendelssohn
Melodic Instrument Category Honorees
Ages 7-10
Honorable Mention: Breslyn Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Eve Krusemark (Violin)
Minuet 2 by Bach
Champion: Simon Phillips (Marimba)
Petite Mallet Suite by Montecalvo
Ages 11-12
Honorable Mention: Ian Krusemark (Violin) & Bo Korfhage (Violin)
Runner Up: Owen Harthan (trombone)
Ancient Ayre by Barrett
Champion: Levi Phillips (Violin)
Concerto in A Minor Op. 3, No. 6 by Vivaldi
Ages 13-14
Honorable Mention: Marcus Mielke (Cello) & Jude Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Maisy Sanford (Violin)
The Boy Paginini by Mollenhauer
Champion: Claire Squire (Violin)
Gigue from Sonata in D minor by F.M. Veracini
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Emma Stanley (Flute) & Namo Afanou (flute)
Runner Up: Cortney Christianson (Marimba)
Gituno by Gomez
Champion: Dori Olana (violin)
Concerto in C Minor by Bach
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, Nicki Christianson, at [email protected].