Newcomerstown senior wins piano competition

On Sunday, April 12 at the Roscoe Village Foundation Visitor Center, three finalists performed on the Montgomery piano before a crowd and a panel of five judges to determine the junior and senior division winners of the 38th annual Edward E. Montgomery Jr. Piano Competition.

Kenley Hayes, daughter of Melissa and Biff Hayes and a senior at Newcomerstown High School, won the senior division. She performed “Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5” by Sergei Rachmaninoff and received a $1,000 cash prize from the Montgomery Foundation. She studies under Bev Darr-Bouscher.

Clark Frischen, son of Janelle and Steve Frischen and a freshman at River View High School, won the junior division. He performed “Puck, Op. 71, No. 3” by Edvard Grieg. He studies with Christina Shrimplin and received a $250 cash award from the Montgomery Foundation.

Exhibition performances were given by Jensen Hayes, Lucy McKibben and Kyleigh Gallwitz.

The 2027 competition is scheduled for Sunday, April 4.