New Mexico School of Music

Congratulations to our winners in the 2026 Jackie McGehee Young Artists' Competition! Evan Morgan - 1st Place in the Piano Solo Category. Sowmya Sankaran - 1st Place in the Piano Concerto Category. Evan and Sowmya are students of NMSM CEO/Director Lawrence Blind. The Jackie McGehee competition has awarded over $250,000 in its 32-year history, and NMSM students have received eight first-place awards, in addition to numerous 2nd and 3rd place finishes.

Congratulations to our student Akilan Sankaran and his teacher Lawrence Blind! Outstanding performance of Mozart’s Piano Concertos with New Mexico Philarmonic Orchestra! Bravo Maestro Minczuk!

We were extremely excited that judges of the Third Olga Kern International Piano Competition gave master classes to our students. For our young pianists, it was a life change experience to work with world known musicians. Many thank to them competition committee for organizing this phenomenal event in our school.

My remarkable and multitalented student, Sophie Passey, will perform Graduate Piano Recital on Saturday, May 21, at 6 pm at our school’s recital hall. Please come and enjoy the amazing music by Bach, Haydn, Albeniz, Liszt, Grieg, and more.

Finally, after two long years we had in-person all school recital today. It was a great success! All students played so well! Thank you all artist and many thanks to their teachers!

My talented and hard working student, Ksenia Ilgen, participated in the Royal Conservatory of Music examination finishing Level 3. She played for a judge from Canada. Congratulations Ksenia! Beautiful performance!

My wonderful students made me very happy today. They did their absolutely best performing on the studio recital. I am very proud of Viktor and Malcolm Parnall, Jake and Sophie Passey - winners of numerous competitions and participants of the Royal Conservatory of Music Examination Program. Thank you for your brilliant performances today!