NEW LONDON — Superintendent John Fortney, Principal Stephen Paterson and Assistant Principal Andrea Castaldo are pleased to share that Kearsarge Regional Middle School (KRMS) Grade 7 student Anya Leokadia Hartford recently won the New Hampshire Music Educators Association’s (NHMEA) Composition Contest.
Hartford’s piece “Soaring” won the Composition Contest’s Middle School Solo Division. This is Hartford’s fourth NHMEA state composition award. Last year, she won the Middle School Chamber Ensemble category for her piece “Floating.”
Pieces are judged on compositional technique, overall musical appeal, and originality.
In the program notes included in her submission, Hartford asks the listener to imagine themselves as a bird soaring through the sky: “That is where the piece takes me. Wherever it takes you, I hope it connects you to the divine around and within us in the special way that music can.”
To view the full score, click here. To listen to the full piece, click here.
Hartford studies piano and flute with Kearsarge Regional Elementary School at New London music teacher Nicole Densmore, plays flute in the KRMS Band directed by Ellen Palmer, and sings in the KRMS Chorus directed by Ethan Pruett. She also studies voice with Fran Steven-Putnam, and dances with the Dance Arts Academy Performance Company. She is grateful to her teachers and peers for supporting her growth as a composer and performer.
“Anya is a thoughtful and expressive musician, and her composition beautifully reflects her ability to create engaging music,” said Densmore. “I’m so proud to see her talent and hard work recognized at the state level.”
“It is wonderful to see Anya’s continued success in the arts! Beyond her exceptional musical talent, Anya is a remarkable student who consistently demonstrates leadership, kindness, and a strong work ethic,” said Assistant Principal Castaldo. “We are excited to see all she will achieve in the future and are incredibly proud of her outstanding accomplishment!”
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