For immediate release                                                   April 23, 2008

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) – Finalists in the junior division of the Twelfth Missouri Southern International Piano Competition were selected following the completion of the semi-final rounds Tuesday night.  They will compete in the Junior Finals beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday night in Taylor Performing Arts Center on the MSSU campus. All Competition rounds are open to the public free of charge.

The finalists and their performance times are:  7:00 p.m. -  Jung-Eun Kim, 14, Korea; 7:30 Behzod Abduraimov, 17, Usbekistan; 8:00 - Anna Han, 12, USA; 8:45 - Daniel Hsu, 10, USA; and 9:15 - Yale Work, 17, USA.
  The junior finalists will compete for $10,500 in prize money. Each contestant will present a 30 minute program of music selected from contrasting style periods. Winners of the Junior division will be announced following the completion of Thursday’s final round. The top three winners will perform during the Gala Winners Concert on Saturday at 8 p.m. in Taylor Performing Arts Center.

             For additional information and concert tickets, contact MSIPC at 417‑625‑9755, email msipc@mssu.edu.