Phyllis Triolo Music Competition Returns Home for 40th Anniversary

STATE COLLEGE — The Phyllis Triolo Music Competition will return to its original home at the State College Area High School on Saturday, May 18.

Created by the Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association in 1984, the music competition was established to honor the memory of Phyllis Triolo, a Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association member, concert pianist, lecturer and teacher. The first iteration of the competition occurred one year later, after a benefit concert was held to raise funds for the competition’s prizes, explained Patricia Lloyd, one of the founders of the competition.

Today, donations, play-a-thons and benefit recitals have enabled the Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association to hold the competition annually for talented middle and high school students in central Pennsylvania.

In 2006, the competition was moved from State High to the Penn State School of Music. However, with the new performing arts center, complete with a new Steinway grand piano, available at the State College Area High School, the competition has returned to where it first started, encouraging young musicians to perform.

“It is our goal — encouraging students from grades six to 12 to excel in music performance,” said Victoria Petrosky, competition co-chair and Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association member. “For my students, if they know that the competition is coming up, they are encouraged to do their very best, and get serious about practicing and learning. The competition is helping students to become better musicians.”

This year’s competition is presented in collaboration with Erik Clayton, a former competition winner and current State High choir director, and the Tri-M Music Honor Society.

The competition is open to instrumentalists, vocalists and pianists, who will compete in two divisions. The junior division will feature musicians in grades six to eight, and the senior division will have performances from musicians in grades nine to 12. Space is limited to 32 contestants. Contestants must reside in Centre, Blair, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Snyder, Lycoming or Union counties. 

For State College Area School District students, there is no entry fee. For non- State College Area School District students who study with Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association teachers, a $25 registration fee is required. All other students who are not a part of the school district or do not study with Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association must pay a $35 registration fee.

Prizes in each division are $300 for first place, $200 for second and $100 for third.

The deadline to register is April 18, 2024.

Competition rules and application forms can be found on the Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association website.