Lilburn Man Wins Prestigious Music Scholarship

The Pro-Mozart Society of Atlanta recognizes Mark Hadden

The Pro-Mozart Society of Atlanta recently held its annual scholarship competition finals and made awards to two talented young Georgia Musicians. Pianist Mark Hadden, a University of Georgia student who is the son of Holly and Gary Hadden of Lilburn, received a scholarship of $4,000 to study later this year at the famed Mozarteum Summer Academy in Salzburg, Austria.

The Final Round of judging, during which Hadden - and Tyler Walker of Valdosta - were chosen, was held at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School (Sandy Springs). The seven finalists presented a repertoire before a live audience and the judges, which included professional musicians, the director of a university school of music and the conductor/director of a symphony orchestra.

As is the tradition with Pro-Mozart Atlanta, Hadden (and Walker) will be presented in concert in Spring 2014. Like all of the group’s concerts, this one will be open to the public.

In fact, on Sunday, April 21, at 5 p.m. Pro-Mozart Atlanta will present Benjamin Rollings, pianist, in concert at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church (http://www.prumc.org/). Rollings is the 2012 Pro-Mozart Atlanta Scholarship Competition Winner.  The concert is free – though donations are welcomed – and open to the public.

Mark Hadden began playing piano at age 7. In high school he discovered classical music through recordings of Mozart and Chopin – albums his mother had purchased for him at a yard sale.  Hadden began studying with Atlanta piano teacher Edith Schiff. He won many GMTA piano competitions as a child, but was now winning accolades including scholarships to study at Florida State and Indiana University Summer music camps. Hadden also won scholarship competitions through the Gainesville Pro Musica and The Atlanta Music Club. He is in his third year at the University of Georgia studying piano performance under Dr. Evgeny Rivkin; he also studies organ and music theory, and sings with various groups. Hadden is the church pianist and choir accompanist at Midway United Methodist Church.

The Pro-Mozart Society of Atlanta (www.MozartAtlanta.com) fosters classical music education and interest in the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (and other composers) through the presentation of concerts and other musical events, and nurtures and develops the talents of young musicians. Its concerts help raise funds for the scholarship program, and it also accepts donations toward the scholarship, as well as for general operations.

For more information about Pro-Mozart Society of Atlanta or the rest of its calendar of events, please visit www.mozartatlanta.com or contact Pro-Mozart Atlanta President Herbert Buffington, 678-488-3591 or info@MozartAtlanta.com. You can also follow the group on Facebook: Pro Mozart Society of Atlanta.