Joe Gangi, Susie Brown, and Melissa Emms of Harding High School won the state competition and finals of the Minnesota High School Music Listening Contest presented by Minnesota Public Radio and the Music Listening Contest Board. The Harding team, coached by Nannette Stroebel and Matthew Oyen, was one of 16 teams across the state to advance to the finals held on Friday, January 31 at Augsburg College Foss Chapel in Minneapolis.

Anne Jefferson, John Compton and Marshall Ogren of Winona High School placed second in the competition; and William Chen, Laura McGowen, and Justin Adams of Edina High School placed third in the state. The coaches for Winona and Edina are Cindy Hammer and DeVonna Murrin respectively.

The students tested their classical music knowledge alongside 660 other teenagers in the regional competition on January 17, 1997. First- and second-place teams from each of the eight regions were chosen to continue on to the state competition where 48 students matched wits in the rigorous test.

The Music Listening Contest encourages students to study a range of musical composers, periods, and styles as a way to expand their knowledge of classical music. To prepare for the contest, each team and their adult coach receives three study CDs of music and an in-depth study guide complete with information from test tips to musical history tidbits. During the months prior to the competition, MPR broadcasts music from the study CDs on its 16 classical music stations and classical music and news stations state-wide.

The contest is sponsored by Augsburg College, International Dairy Queen, Reliastar Foundation, and Unisys Corporation.

For more information, explore the Music Listening Contest website, or call the Minnesota Music Listening Contest Hotline at (612) 290-1234.