UNION — The piano students of Suzy Smith performed a recital Thursday evening at USC Union, showcasing the fruits of practice throughout the year.
Smith said she was pleased with how well the recital went, and she mentioned that the opening piece was sung by vocal and piano student Mary Ashton Garret. Garret, a soprano, is one of two students currently taking vocal classes from UCHS Chorus and GT Music teacher Leigha Pace. Smith said Pace looks to expand enrollment next year.
The following includes children who participated in the piano recital and the pieces they performed:
First-Year Students
- Thomas Smith — “America the Beautiful” — Ward
- Ben Fowler — “The Bible” — Traditional
- Aniyah Horne — “God Is So Good” — Traditional
- Garrett Ponder — “Yankee Doodle” — Traditional
- Bethany Henderson — “All the Pretty Little Horses” — Traditional
- Ethan Gist — “Turkey in the Straw” — Traditional
Bach, Beethoven and Brahms Pieces
- Katy Fowler — “Lullaby” — Brahms
- Thomazin Littlejohn — “Minuet and Musette” — Bach
- Mahlon Shetley — “Theme from Fifth Symphony” — Beethoven
- Madison Haney — “Minuet in G Major” — Bach
- Rileigh Inglett — “Turkish March — Beethoven
- Mary Ashton Garrett — “Rage Over the Lost Penny” — Beethoven
- Jennifer Turner — “Ecossaise” — Beethoven
- Carmen Sliwa — “Fur Elise” — Beethoven
- Jasmine Sherbert — “Invention in C Major” — Bach
- Blayke Lawson — “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” — Bach
- Ryan West — “Bagatello in D Major” — Beethoven
- Kaylee Woody — “Waltz in G Sharp Minor” — Brahms
- Abby Kingsmore — “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” — Beethoven
- Jasmine Sherbert — “Hungarian Dance” — Brahms
Pieces by American Composers and Classical Composers
- Halen Lawing — “Prowling Pussy Cat” — Gillock
- Riley Pittman — “Aardvark Boogie” — Faber
- Josie Hayes — “Celebration Promenade” — Perdew
- Alexis Beasley — “By the Brook” — Brown
- Morgan Petty — “Minuet in F Major” — Mozart
- Kaylee Woody — “Arabesque” — Burgmneller
- Abby Kingsmore — “Symphony of Spring” — Costley
- Morgan Pittman — “Romeo and Juliet” — Rota
- Ryan West — “Polonaise in G Minor” — Chopin
- Jasmine Sherbert — “Reverie in D Major” — Tingley
- Maisie Fisher — “Rondo Alla Turea” — Mozart
- Evan Haney — “Reverie” by Debussy and “Elegie, Op. 3, No. 1” by Rachmaninoff
- Blayke Lawson — “Theme from Symphony No. 40” — Mozart
- Evan Haney and Maisie Fisher — “Canon in D Major” — Pachelbel
Following Thursday’s recital, Smith presented several students with awards before joining students, parents and guests on the second floor of USC Union’s Main Building for a reception.
Evan Haney received a plaque for earning a $1,500 scholarship from Union Music Club, as well as a high school graduation present from the class.
Jasmine Sherbert received the Union Music Club’s Boinest Morgan Medal for Outstanding Piano Student.
Smith also presented awards to some of the students who participated in the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival at Converse College. Josie Hayes received the award for Best Performer; Mary Ashton Garrett received an award for three years performing solos; and Evan Haney received awards for three years of theory tests and three years playing at the festival.
Smith also presented 10 students with awards for practice time. The three awards for practicing most went to Ethan Gist, Alexis Beasley and Kayla Woody. The remaining seven practice awards were presented to Josie Hayes, Evan Haney, Blayke Lawson, Jasmine Sherbert, Thomas Smith, Bethany Henderson and Carmen Sliwa.
Staff Writer Derik Vanderford can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 29, or by email at dvanderford@civitasmedia.com.














