Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University piano performance major Emily Tucker was named the winner of the 34^th annual Virginia Queen Piano Competition held recently in Ouachita’s McBeth Recital Hall.

“I didn't really know what to expect, competing as a sophomore, so I was genuinely surprised to win," said Tucker, a sophomore from Hot Springs, Ark. "I want to thank my piano teacher because she has seen and brought out a potential in me that I didn't even see in myself. Working with her has been a very exciting process."

Tucker, a student of Dr. Ouida Keck, adds this to three other recognitions she has earned this year. She 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 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.

Sixteen Ouachita students participated in the annual Virginia Queen competition, which was established by and named in honor of former Ouachita piano professor Virginia Queen.

Tucker earned $700 with her first place finish, and second place winner Natalie Carroll, a senior choral music education major from Harare, Zimbabwe, was awarded $450. Christina Wood, a junior piano performance and music theory and composition major from Longview, Texas, earned third place and a $250 prize. Two students were awarded fourth place and $100 prizes: Jordan Denniston, a freshman music major from Plano, Texas, and Julie Tucker, a senior music major from Hot Springs, Ark. Two students also received honorable mention honors with $50 prizes: Kiley Gamble, a sophomore communication sciences and disorders major from McKinney, Texas, and Christopher Mazen, a sophomore church music major from Shreveport, La.