By Caleb Youngblood, Public Relations Coordinator
November 20, 2025
The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is proud to announce that junior Catherine Shao (Class of 2027) recently earned first place in the Mississippi State Piano Competition of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), held at Jones College in Ellisville.
With her state-level win, Catherine will now represent Mississippi in the MTNA South Division Competition. Winners from each division advance to the MTNA National Conference, which will take place in Chicago, Illinois, March 21–25, 2026.
During the competition, Catherine performed three pieces that showcased her versatility across distinct musical eras — Classical, Romantic, and Impressionistic:
• Sonata in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, I. Allegro by Ludwig van Beethoven
• Étude in E Major, Op. 10, No. 3 (“Tristesse”) by Frédéric Chopin
• Miroirs, I. “Oiseaux tristes” by Maurice Ravel
Catherine shared that her favorite piece to perform was Chopin’s Étude in E Major, a work she originally learned in honor of her late grandmother.
“I originally learned it as a tribute to my grandmother, who passed away last November,” she said. “It was the most emotionally challenging piece in my repertoire because it required not only technical skill but also a genuine expression of parting.”
Catherine is also dual-enrolled in piano studies at Mississippi University for Women, where she takes applied lessons (MUS 125 Elective Piano) with Dr. Julia Mortyakova, Professor and Chair of the Department of Music.
“I am proud of all the work Catherine did this semester in order to prepare for this competition,” said Mortyakova.
Through MSMS’s partnership with MUW, students have the opportunity to dual-enroll in individual applied lessons, ensembles, and music coursework. The MUW Department of Music offers degree programs in Music Performance, Composition, Music Education, and Music Therapy, providing valuable pathways for students pursuing advanced musical study.
Catherine began learning her competition pieces about a year ago, but she said her recent months have been devoted to refining and polishing them.
“When I start learning a new piece, I begin with scales and technical exercises to build a solid foundation,” she explained. “Once I’ve learned the notes and overall structure, I listen to other pianists’ interpretations and work on shaping my own style of expression.”
Beyond her technical training, Catherine says what she loves most about music is its power to tell stories without words.
“Music allows me to express myself in ways words never could,” she said. “It feels like a third writing class that uses sounds instead of sentences.”
Catherine’s achievement continues a remarkable family legacy of musical excellence at MSMS. Her brother, Harrison Shao (Class of 2025), also won the Mississippi State Piano Competition in 2023 as an MSMS junior, going on to represent the state in the MTNA Southern Division Piano Competition.
MSMS is incredibly proud of both Catherine and Harrison for their dedication, artistry, and continued success. The entire community wishes Catherine the best of luck as she advances to the next level of competition.
To learn more about the MTNA competition, please visit https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/Engage/Competitions/Competitions.aspx