May 7, 2025
From left: Winners Claire Chang, Seonju Jo, and Maria Parrini, with judges Dr. Virginia Weckstrom, Dr. Ana Maria Otamendi, and Dr. Wayne Ching.
The Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin celebrated outstanding student musicianship during the 2025 Sidney Wright Piano Accompanying Competition. Held annually, the competition honors the art of piano collaboration and awards the prestigious Sidney M. Wright Endowed Presidential Scholarship.
The top prize was awarded to Butler School of Music pianist Seonju Jo and Tim Jones. Butler students Maria Parrini secured third place, while Claire Chang received fourth place honors.
Recognizing the vital role of collaborators in these performances, this year’s competition also presented Best Collaborator Awards to Butler students Yuxin Liu (soprano), Yerin Han (soprano), and Ellie Sievers (violin).
The competition is unique in that each pianist selects and performs alongside a vocal or instrumental partner.
The Sidney M. Wright Endowed Presidential Scholarship was established by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Irwin Wright in memory of their son, a UT alumnus admired for his contributions to opera and church music.
This year’s panel of distinguished judges included Dr. Virginia Weckstrom of Rice University, Dr. Ana Maria Otamendi from the University of Michigan, and Dr. Wayne Ching of Trinity University.
The Sidney Wright Competition continues to highlight the collaborative spirit and technical excellence of UT Austin’s musicians, reinforcing the university’s reputation as a hub for high-caliber musical training.