Karp Festival 16 years strong
MAKING A BEAUTIFUL NOISE AT KC

(photo above) Dr. David Karp judged the piano contest at KC on Saturday which was named in his honor. (photo left) Lily Cool performs during the Karp Festival. Cool placed second in Division II. Sandra Siler, piano teacher at KC coordinated the event.

Kilgore College held the 16th Annual Karp Festival on Saturday at the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center.

Sandra Siler, KC piano instructor wanted to honor her teacher/mentor while at Southern Methodist University, Dr. David Karp, by establishing a piano festival in his honor.

Siler said students from all over the State of Texas perform piano solos written by Karp in preliminary judging. Judges select outstanding students from each division to perform in a "Winner's Recital" which was held Saturday afternoon.

Karp listened to the winners recital, which resulted in the awarding of trophies to the top three contestents in each division. Divisions were based on age groups and one division was a duet division.

In division one, those competing were Catherine Rodgers, Emily Nutt, Hannah Francisco, Katie Cloud, Ryken DeGroat and Andres Matiz. Cloud finished in first place, DeGroat in second place and Rodgers finished third.

News Herald Photos by Lester Murray

In division two, contestants were Lily Cool, Brian Langford, John McConnell, Adrian Guerrero, Bethany Cox and Rachel Faulkner. Cox finished in first place, Cool in second place and for third there was a tie between Guerrero and McConnell.

In division three, contestants were Bret Thompson, Nick Siler, Alissa Thompson, Eva Watson, Kristine Uy-oco and Keaunda Ivory. Uy-oco finished in first place, Bret Thompson finished in second place and Alissa Thompson in third place.

In division four, the duet division, contestants were Rebecca Faulkner and Brett Thompson, Lily Cool and Rachel Faulkner, Mahlon Acres and Reid Stone, Aaron Brison and Betty Hernandez and William Mann and Nick Siler. Mann and Siler finished in first place, Acres and Stone in second and Faulkner and Thompson in third.

Siler said Dr. Karp has made an indelible impression on her musical career. "I felt that I must try to give him back something in return. What better gift than that of hearing your very own published compositions performed by hundreds of students throughtout Texas," said Siler. "David so appreciates this festival commenting that attending the recital is one of the highlights of his year."