by Singh Hanna
In the 2025 National Federation of Music Club competition, Melissa Le, Elena Baines, and Preston Parker, all students from Ruston High School, won their fourth Gold Cup. The pupils represented their school and community by playing solo piano pieces and receiving excellent reviews.
The Federation is a student performance event that gives students the opportunity to win prizes for their musical performances. A gold cup can be obtained every three years after reaching 15, 30, 45, or 60 points, and up to 5 points can be won annually in any category with a superior rating. Because of the higher level of difficulty, students in the senior concerto division are permitted to get eight points annually for a superior rating.
Now Parker and Dee Alexander have accompanied him on two concerto performances. In 2024, they played the opening movement of List’s Concerto No. 1 in E Flat Major, and in 2025, they played Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Both Parker and Alexander practiced the complex compositions for a long time. Parker’s performances in both years earned him the highest score. Because of this, he was able to win the fourth gold cup more quickly than any other student in the history of the Ruston Area Music Teachers Association.
Parker is on course to win the Grand Cup in 2026 and the President’s Cup in 2027, his senior year, with two more years to continue performing solo and concerto piano. Denise Cox, Parker’s music instructor, commended Parker on his diligence and hard work in obtaining this prestigious honor.
Since kindergarten, Preston Parker has been in my piano studio, and Cox said it has been a true pleasure to watch him grow in his gift from God. Due to their consistently high evaluations, all three of these pupils have achieved a great deal. Their achievement of winning the 4th Gold Cup in Federation is a testament to their skill and commitment to excellence in their piano studies.
In the solo piano performance division, Elena Baines, a prospective junior at Ruston, won her fourth Gold Cup. Melissa Le, an incoming senior at Ruston High School, also won her fourth Gold Cup for her solo piano performance. Jeanne Patterson, their music instructor, remarked on their steadfast perseverance in developing their skills over the years.
According to Patterson, Elena and Melissa are excellent students who consistently put in the effort necessary to succeed in everything they do. Each of them is a student of mine, and their families are piano parents, which is a blessing. The magic is created by that mix.
In order to attain greater success within the Federation in the upcoming years, all three students will keep pursuing their musical passions.
