Pansky Competition Winners

• Freshman at Lawrence University
• Awarded first place in college division in 2008, performing the Piano Concerto in D minor by Brahms

What did this award mean to you?
“I felt that it was a great honor and a great challenge to play with an orchestra for the first time. As a relatively late starter with piano, it also gave me a newfound confidence that greatly improved my playing.”

• Assistant Professor of Music (Piano and Music Theory), Keyboard Area Head at Hope College in Holland, MI
• granted tenure and will be promoted to Associate Professor of Music in July 2026
• still plays the piano every day – as a soloist, chamber musician, and instructor in classes and lessons
• davidkeepmusic.com

“I married Allison Shinnick (fellow Lawrentian, Appleton native, and fabulous pianist) in 2022. We both teach piano at Hope College, and frequently perform as a piano duo. We had a baby in September 2025. Her name is Ila, and she really likes when we play Mendelssohn!”

Words of wisdom:
“Playing a concerto is a great chance to communicate your ideas, feelings, and emotions to a much larger audience than usual. Always think bigger! It will help clarify your interpretations of every piece you play, not just concerti. Preparing for a concerto performance teaches you a lot about stage presence.”

• Senior at Neenah High School
• Runner-up in high school division in 2008, performing Glière’s Horn Concerto #1

What did this award mean to you?
“I started taking horn lessons when I was 14 and got serious about music when I was 16, both are quite late for someone to pursue it professionally. There were few competitive opportunities in the area so I was just glad to have the opportunity. Multi-instrumental competitions usually favor violinists and pianists since they play a lot more notes and have wider repertoire so I didn’t expect anything to come of it especially competing against college students. I was shocked when I found out I took 2nd prize so that was a nice confidence boost.”

• Plays the horn in the Singapore Symphony since 2023
• Plays as a guest in orchestras in North America, Europe, and Asia
• Teaches and does solo performances in Australia, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Finland, and the UK
• austin-larson.com

“After finishing music school at the University of Cincinnati and the Curtis Institute I won my first job with the Colorado Symphony and played there for 3 years before winning my second job in the Baltimore Symphony. I was there for a total of four years before winning my current job and moving overseas. I did many more competitions when I was younger, winning several, including the International Horn Competition of America.”

Words of wisdom:
“The most important thing you will take away from a competition is almost always the experience, not the prize. Competitions are incredible learning and growth experiences if treated as such. Avoid the mentality of competing only to win. Compete to present the best performance you can, and in the process you will make yourself a better musician.”

• Senior at homeschool
• Awarded first place in high school division, performing the Violin Concerto by Sibelius

What did this award mean to you?
“At the time, I was blessed to be able to play with the Civic Symphony because Sibelius was (and still is) my favorite concerto. It was such an amazing experience to perform this gorgeous piece with an orchestra, and was very helpful in my development as a young musician, because performing with an orchestra requires a very different skill set than performing with a piano.”

• Studied violin performance for two years at the Eastman School of Music with Charles Castleman
• Holds an MFA in writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design
• Published two nonfiction books
• Teaches private lessons

“I had a serious accident that involved two strokes and caused me to permanently lose feeling in my left hand. My recovery took several years, but I have been able to relearn to play just using my eyes and long-term memory, and recently gave my first recital in 10 years.”

Words of wisdom:
“Focus on the story the music is telling, and the unique way that only you can communicate that story! It’s tempting to stress about technique and execution, but I think the most moving performances, for both the players and the listeners, are the ones where some meaningful emotion was shared between them.”

• Freshman at Fox Valley Lutheran High School
• Awarded second place in high school division in 2010, performing Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate
• Returned to win first place in high school division in 2012, performing Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy

What did this award mean to you?
“I was so glad to win second place in the competition! Zigeunerweisen is such a fun piece, and I was grateful for the chance to share it!”

• Video editor by day, musician by night
• Member of the Fox Valley Symphony
• Plays with Daddy D Productions in Green Bay, as well as other miscellaneous gigs and weddings

Words of wisdom:
“It’s not about perfection; it’s all about your passion for the music. You can really psych yourself out worrying about every little detail. Try to focus on what you love about the music and let your performance flow naturally from there.”

• Senior at Lawrence University
• Awarded first place in college division in 2016, performing Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 2

What did this award mean to you?
“I am grateful for the recognition of learning such a difficult concerto. It took two years to learn the work. It was unfortunate I did not get the opportunity to perform it due to my injuries. However, I was grateful to be allowed to perform Brahms and a personal improvisation for such an active audience in Green Bay.”

• Tax accountant at KPMG
• Practices for at least an hour a day
• accompanies and performs multiple times a year

Words of wisdom:
“It is not the goals you set that achieve your dreams, but the system you fall back onto. I succeeded because I had a consistent passion and desire to go back to the piano every day and master the work I set out to learn. It took two years, but in the end I never stopped. Keep going down the path, and the destination shall come.”

• Junior at homeschool
• Awarded second place in high school division in 2016, performing Ravel’s Tzigane
• Returned to win first place in high school division in 2018, performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1

What did this award mean to you?
“I competed twice in the Pansky Competition in high school, the first time receiving runner-up and winning first place in 2018. The first time I competed, I felt like I had not quite achieved my goals for the competition, and by the second time I competed I felt like I had achieved the most I could have from the experience. Being on stage with familiar faces made the experience much more comfortable and it allowed me to feel supported and confident.”

• Graduating in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from the University of Michigan, School of Music Theater and Dance
• Concertmaster of the University Philharmonia Orchestra
• Tenured section violin of Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
• Tenured assistant principal second of Lansing Symphony Orchestra

Words of wisdom:
“Practice performing, don’t practice practicing. Play as if you are on stage, and you will then be able to perform like you thought you practiced.”

• Junior at Lawrence University
• Awarded first place in college division in 2018, performing Medtner’s Piano Concerto No. 2

What did this award mean to you?
“Bringing an underperformed work to the stage.”

• Piano technician
• Switched to jazz and plays at Le Piano in Chicago

Words of wisdom:
“Play something the judges haven’t heard too often. The less standard the repertoire, the more your own voice will be heard.”

• High school freshman at Academy of Excellence Online
• Awarded first place in high school division in 2021, performing Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole

What did this award mean to you?
“As the result of winning the Pansky Concerto Competition, I was able to perform as a soloist with orchestra for the first time in three years, which was very exciting. As I also went on to perform Symphonie Espagnole with three other orchestras, my performance with the Civic Symphony of Green Bay was a very valuable first opportunity to perform the piece.”

• High school junior at the Academy of Excellence Online
• Continues to study with Dr. Anna Cromwell at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and participates in a variety of competitions
• Second year as a member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, performing in both the Youth Orchestra and the Pondrom Piano Quartet
• Performed as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra, Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, and Birch Creek Symphony
• Received first prize in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s 2023 Audrey G. Baird Stars of Tomorrow Competition
• Performed as a soloist in March 2024 with the Madison Symphony Orchestra as a finalist of the 2024 Bolz Young Artist Competition: The Final Forte, broadcast live on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio

Words of wisdom:
“Think of the competition as a performance opportunity and a chance to share your hard work with the judges. In the end, the competition results don’t matter too much as long as you learn something from the experience and enjoy it.”

• Junior at Lawrence University
• Awarded second place in college division in 2021, performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2

What did this award mean to you?
“The competition was a great opportunity for me to perform the Prokofiev concerto in an audition setting, which gave me a concrete goal to work towards in my practicing – something I have always found very helpful. As I continue to take many auditions for various things, I am constantly aware of how valuable sheer experience is. I also appreciated very much the written feedback from the judges, as it’s always so helpful to get additional perspectives and constructive criticism on one’s performance. And of course it was gratifying to be recognized as a runner-up.”

• Senior at Lawrence University
• Auditioning for master’s programs in piano performance

Words of wisdom:
“Perform your piece as much as possible before your audition (even playing in front of friends can be very helpful) – everyone gets nervous, and the best remedy for nerves is good preparation. And also remember that the opinions of judges are…opinions (usually smart ones, but opinions nonetheless)…and therefore subjective.”