March 24, 2021

Freshman pianist places first at music competition 

Upper St. Clair High School freshman Leona Chen recently won first place in the music category of the annual Discover FAA High School Competition. A pianist, Leona performed Chopin’s Polonaise in A-flat major “Heroic.”

The competition is hosted by the College of Fine & Applied Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As the winning underclassman, Leona will receive a scholarship to attend an FAA summer program in music.

Each year the Discover FAA High School Competitions challenge students to stretch their abilities while they explore the wide variety of classes and majors offered within the College of Fine & Applied Arts. Students who enter are eligible for University of Illinois scholarships.

According to the university’s website, “Through these competitions, we hope to inspire the next generation of creative thinkers and emphasize the importance of the arts in society.”

In 2019, as a seventh grader, Leona placed first overall in the Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs Festivals Piano Competition.