Westminster Concert Series: Pianist Athena Nagel

Athena Nagel (14) was born in Muncie, Indiana. She is homeschooled and is now in 9th grade. Athena loves to play classical piano and also to participate in Muncie Ballet, Inc. During summer of 2011, she attended the "Young Artist World Piano Festival" in St. Paul for her second year in a row, and she spent three weeks at the piano camp at Interlochen in Michigan. While at Interlochen, Athena was chosen to play the harpsichord with the intermediate Interlochen Symphony Orchestra, and the ensemble performed a concerto grosso by Handel. In May of the same year, she won the local "Junior Festival" playoffs, and then in June she won first place in her age category at the state level of the "Junior Festival" competition. She also won first place in the local "Hoosier Auditions" competition, and went on to win an honorable mention at the "Hoosier Auditions" state level. Athena's playing has been heard on WBST radio several times over the last few years, as part of the "Young Artist Showcase" series presented by PianoForte, Inc. She regularly plays on MTNA pre-college recitals hosted by Ball State, and on spring recitals coordinated by her principal piano teacher, Liz Seidel. She has also been the piano/harpsichord player with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of East Central Indiana for the last three years. Athena takes supplemental piano lessons with Jean-Louise Hagenauer at Indiana University.