FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 3, 2025
Contact: Allison Wergeland, Terrace Hill Communications & Events Coordinator
allison.wergeland@governor.iowa.gov | 515.281.7205
The annual Terrace Hill Piano Competition was held Saturday, March 29th, 2025. For the first time in competition history, it was held at Terrace Hill, the Iowa Governor’s Residence and National Historic Landmark.
Both the Junior and Senior levels were held the same day, with a full complement of entrants: twelve Junior contestants and eight Seniors. This year’s judge was Dr. Mark Stevens of South Dakota State University. The competition was recorded by Iowa PBS and will premiere on Monday, April 21 at 8:00 pm. There will be a repeat of the broadcast on Sunday, April 27 at 1:00 pm. The full broadcast, along with individual performances, will be available for viewing on iowapbs.org.
Junior contestants who placed received cash prizes, courtesy of Hurd Real Estate:
- Winner – Gideon Levine, Iowa City, student of Dr. Réne Lecuona
- Second Place – Gwenyth Franzcyk, Urbandale, student of Cyndie Caruth
- Third Place – Minerva Cao, Clive, student of Larisa Kanevski
Senior contestants who placed received two-year scholarships to enroll as a piano major or minor at any Iowa college or university, with the winner awarded “The First Family of Iowa” scholarship:
- First Place – Helen Mao, Ames, student of Dr. Mei-Hsuan Huang
- Second Place – Gretchen Mizerak, Ames, student of Dr. Janci Bronson
- Third Place – Veronica Jane Smith, Des Moines, student of Dr. Marion Wilkinson Scott
For more information, visit the website: https://terracehill.iowa.gov/thema