Interlochen Arts Academy senior wins national music competition
Jonah Cohen won top honors in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Senior Composition Competition finals
Interlochen Arts Academy senior Jonah Cohen is a composer, pianist, and cellist who has received recognition from the National YoungArts Foundation, National Young Composers Challenge, Foundation for Modern Music, and many others.
"I am so honored to have been selected as the winner in the Senior Division of the 2021-22 Music Teachers National Association Composition Competition for my piece Hineni for cello choir,” said Jonah Cohen of Farmington Hills, Michigan. “Thanks so much to my teachers, Dr. Cynthia Van Maanen and Mr. Sawyer Denton, for their invaluable advice and support, and to the Tennessee Cello Workshop for presenting the world premiere performance of this piece!"
The three-tiered MTNA Senior Composition Competition begins at the state level. First-place winners of each state’s competition advance to a division competition. Division winners compete in the national finals. As the national competition winner, Cohen received $2,000 provided by MTNA Foundation Fund. The senior level is open to musicians ages 15 to 18.
MTNA is a nonprofit organization of independent and collegiate music teachers committed to furthering the art of music through teaching, performance, composition, and scholarly research. Founded in 1876, MTNA is the oldest professional music teachers association in the United States.
