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.
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!
2026 Harris Music Contest Top Performers
Piano Honorees
Ages 6-8
Honorable Mention: Bella Vu and Sophia Zhang
Runner Up: Griffin Gatzemeyer
March King by Dennis Alexander
Champion: Eva Day
Pumpkin Boogie by Nancy and Randall Faber
Ages 9-11
Honorable Mention: Breslyn Krusemark and Eric Mee
Runner Up: Eve Krusemark
Fuego de la Pasion by Wynn-Anne Rossi
Champion: Stella Vu
Jack Rabbit Ramble by Eric Baumgartner
Ages 12-14
Honorable Mention: Lucille Short and Xinzhu Xiang
Runner Up: Levi Phillips
Grillen from Phantasiestücke by Robert Schumann
Champion: Sophia Frank
Andante Cantabile in Bb Major from Two Piano Pieces by F. Mendelssohn
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Benjamin Waksdahl and Maria Vu
Runner Up: Claire Pepper
Wedding Day at Troldhaugen by Edvard Grieg
Champion: Abraham Phillips
Fantasie Impromptu Op 66 by Frederic Chopin
Melodic Instrument Honorees
Ages 7-10
Honorable Mention: Eve Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Stephanie Babicheva (Flute)
Kagome Kagome by Traditional
Champion: Stella Vu (Violin)
Minuet in G by Beethoven
Ages 11-12
Honorable Mention: Emmaline Dundas (French Horn) and
Breslyn Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Else Christianson (Violin)
Blarney Pilgrim by Traditional
Champion: Simon Phillips (Marimba)
Mbira Song by Alice Gomez and Marilyn Rife
Ages 13-14
Honorable Mention: Adam Squire (Cello) and Maxwell Harthan (Violin)
Runner Up: Brooks Hugstad-Vaa Leer (Cello)
Sonata in C Major by Jean Baptiste Breval
Champion: Ian Krusemark (Viola)
Concerto in G Minor, Movements II, III by G.P. Telemann
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Emma Grush (Flute) and Ella Diaz (Marimba)
Runner Up: Felicia Thimmesch (Marimba)
Gitano by Alice Gomez
Champion: Dori Olana (Viola)
Bach Cello Suite 2 Prelude (transposed for viola) by Bach
Special thanks to the music teachers who encouraged their students to study, practice and participate.
Piano Honorees
Ages 6-8
Honorable Mention: Bella Vu and Sophia Zhang
Runner Up: Griffin Gatzemeyer
March King by Dennis Alexander
Champion: Eva Day
Pumpkin Boogie by Nancy and Randall Faber
Ages 9-11
Honorable Mention: Breslyn Krusemark and Eric Mee
Runner Up: Eve Krusemark
Fuego de la Pasion by Wynn-Anne Rossi
Champion: Stella Vu
Jack Rabbit Ramble by Eric Baumgartner
Ages 12-14
Honorable Mention: Lucille Short and Xinzhu Xiang
Runner Up: Levi Phillips
Grillen from Phantasiestücke by Robert Schumann
Champion: Sophia Frank
Andante Cantabile in Bb Major from Two Piano Pieces by F. Mendelssohn
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Benjamin Waksdahl and Maria Vu
Runner Up: Claire Pepper
Wedding Day at Troldhaugen by Edvard Grieg
Champion: Abraham Phillips
Fantasie Impromptu Op 66 by Frederic Chopin
Melodic Instrument Honorees
Ages 7-10
Honorable Mention: Eve Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Stephanie Babicheva (Flute)
Kagome Kagome by Traditional
Champion: Stella Vu (Violin)
Minuet in G by Beethoven
Ages 11-12
Honorable Mention: Emmaline Dundas (French Horn) and
Breslyn Krusemark (Violin)
Runner Up: Else Christianson (Violin)
Blarney Pilgrim by Traditional
Champion: Simon Phillips (Marimba)
Mbira Song by Alice Gomez and Marilyn Rife
Ages 13-14
Honorable Mention: Adam Squire (Cello) and Maxwell Harthan (Violin)
Runner Up: Brooks Hugstad-Vaa Leer (Cello)
Sonata in C Major by Jean Baptiste Breval
Champion: Ian Krusemark (Viola)
Concerto in G Minor, Movements II, III by G.P. Telemann
Ages 15-18
Honorable Mention: Emma Grush (Flute) and Ella Diaz (Marimba)
Runner Up: Felicia Thimmesch (Marimba)
Gitano by Alice Gomez
Champion: Dori Olana (Viola)
Bach Cello Suite 2 Prelude (transposed for viola) by Bach
Special thanks to the music teachers who encouraged their students to study, practice and participate.
Questions? Contact our Music Coordinator, Nicki Christianson, at [email protected].