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Atzinger takes bronze in two international piano competitions

By Kenyon Thorp '11
October 23, 2009

St. Olaf Assistant Professor of Music Christopher Atzinger earned a bronze medal in each of two recent international piano competitions.

Atzinger took one of the top prizes in the Seattle International Piano Competition and Festival Oct. 10, finishing third in the professional division. He also received special recognition from Seattle-area music teachers, who awarded Atzinger the “Teacher’s Favorite Award” for his performance in the final round.

He followed that competition with a big win Oct. 16 in the San Antonio International Piano Competition. The competition featured 72 applicants from 19 different countries, and Atzinger was the only American to make it to the semi-final and final rounds. He finished third overall, receiving a monetary award of $5,000 as well as the prize for Best Performance of a Commissioned Work for his performance of Ivory and Ebony by Joan Tower. As a result of his third-place finish, Atzinger will return to Texas for a return engagement sometime between 2010 and 2012.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.