David Coleman

Erskine Music Major Wins First Place in Piano Competition

David Coleman, an Erskine College junior majoring in piano and organ performance, won first prize in the South Carolina collegiate piano division competition of the Music Teachers National Association on Friday, Nov. 10.

Coleman becomes the first Erskine student to win this event since 1966 graduate Mac Frampton, who won it in the mid-1960s, according to Dr. Matthew Manwarren of the Erskine College Department of Music.

Coleman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Coleman of Abbeville. He is a piano student of Manwarren and a former piano student of Shirley Lampton, Professor Emerita of Music at Erskine College.

The competition was held on the campus of Winthrop University in Rock Hill. As the winner, Coleman will represent the state of South Carolina in January as one of nine contestants from southern states at the Southern Division competition in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Coleman was one of 14 contestants throughout the state of South Carolina to compete in this event. The other participants represented such institutions as Bob Jones University, Furman University, Winthrop University, and Presbyterian College.

As part of the competition requirements, each contestant performed a program of 50 minutes, which included a major work for piano and orchestra, as well as a solo piece from each major historical period.

"David is developing into a musical artist with a definite professional future," said Manwarren. "As his teacher, it is exciting to witness his musical growth, and it is an honor to have some small part in his success.

"It is even more exciting, though, that Erskine's music department is competing on a level comparable with some of the other institutions in this state that have long been recognized for outstanding achievement in music."

Coleman will present his junior recital tonight, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. in Memorial Hall. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.