Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University sophomore Emily Tucker, a piano performance major from Hot Springs, Ark., has recently earned honors on the state and local levels.

Tucker, a student of Dr. Ouida Keck, was awarded first place at the Arkansas National Federation of Music Clubs Student/Collegiate auditions in the piano category and earned second place in the Hot Springs Music Club Scholarship Competition. She was also recently recognized with an honorable mention in the Trinity Presents Collegiate Showcase at Trinity United Methodist Church in Little Rock and was the first honorable mention designee invited to perform at the Showcase.

“It is really good to know that I am actually progressing as a pianist,” Tucker said. "It is something I really have to work at but it is worth all the work when I am able to put my emotion into a piece and see other people feel that emotion also.”

"It is very rewarding to see students grow and fall in love with music and Emily has been a prime example of that," said Keck, OBU’s Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music. "It is wonderful to see students like Emily put in the time and effort to achieve what they are capable of achieving.

"I'm excited that Emily is at the point where she is now in her study as a sophomore and I can only imagine how she will perform as a senior," Keck added.

As part of the NFMC auditions, Tucker submitted a recording of performances of varying styles including baroque, classical and romantic selections as well as an etude. Because the organization promotes American musicians and composers, applicants are also required to perform a piece by a contemporary American composer. Tucker received a $200 prize along with her first place award, and her recording will progress to the national level for judging.

In addition to her second place award in the HSMC competition, Tucker received an $800 prize and will perform in an Honors Recital May 8 in Hot Springs. Tucker said that she was especially proud of her placement in this competition as a sophomore undergraduate student since the first place winner was a graduate student.

For more information, contact Dr. Ouida Keck at [email protected] or (870) 245-5352.

By Glenn Bolton