Instrumentalists (non-Piano)

Did you know that the 1970s saw 17 women make Top 10 at Miss America playing a musical instrument other than the piano?  During the television years (1954-present) Top 10 talents have included women playing flute, clarinet, saxophone, harp, violin/fiddle, cello, banjo, and marimba.

Five of our Miss Americas in the television years have played a musical instrument (other than piano) in talent. (See below).

1979 was THE record year for instrumentalists:
1st Runner-up - Tana Carli, Ohio, accordion (Talent Prelim Winner)-Tea for Two & Dizzy Fingers
2nd Runner-up - Michelle Whitson, Kansas, harp-Never On Sunday
3rd Runner-up - Susan Wilson, Missouri, piano-Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu
4th Runner-up - Marti Phillips, Florida, clarinet-Rhapsody in Blue & Begin the Beguine
Top 10 Finalist - Lori Froeling, Iowa, Flute-Carnival of Venice
Even Miss America, Cheryl Prewitt, Mississippi, accompanied herself on the piano when she sang 'Don't Cry Out Loud.

Instrumentalists in Top 10 by Decade
1950s - 4
1960's - 2
1970's - 17
1980s - 7
1990s - 5
2000s - 6
2010s - 0 

In the television era (1954-2014), states have sent an average of four (4) women to Miss America who played a musical instrument other than piano for talent.

States with most instrumentalists in the television era (1954-2014)
Idaho - 15
Minnesota - 12
Colorado - 8
Iowa - 8
Wisconsin - 8

States with fewest instrumentalists in the television era (1954-2014)
Virginia - 0
North Carolina - 0
Arizona - 1
Georgia - 1
Indiana - 1
Nebraska - 1
West Virginia - 1

States with the most Top 10 Finalists playing instruments
Texas-5
Wisconsin-4
South Carolina-3

Top 10 Finalists by Instrument (1954-2014)
As you will see from their selections, it helps to play Csardas, no matter what instrument.

Violin/Fiddle-14
Five women have played Orange Blossom Special in Top 10
1970-Oklahoma-Judy Adams-Top 10 & Tal-Hot Canary by Florian ZaBach
1973-Texas-Judy Mallett-Top 10-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1978-Kansas-Lori Bergen-Top 10 & Tal-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1983-Missouri-Barbara Webster-Top 10 & Tal-Listen to the Mockingbird & Orange Blossom Special
1985-Texas-Jonna Fitzgerald-2nd Runner-up & Tal-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1986-Michigan-Kelly Lynn Garver-3rd Runner-up & Tal-New Country & Orange Blossom Special
1988-MINNESOTA-GRETCHEN CARLSON-MISS AMERICA 1989 & Tal-Zigeunerweisen
1993-Wisconsin-Tania Ziegler-Top 10-Bruch's Concerto No 1 in G minor
1999-Pennsylvania-Susan Spafford-2nd Runner-up-Polish Caprice
2002-Maryland-Camille Lewis-4th Runner-up & Tal-Victory
2003-Rhode Island-Laurie Gray-Top 10 & Tal-Concerto in E minor, Opus 64
2006-Utah-Katie Millar-Top 10-Souvenirs d'Amerique & Variations on Yankee Doodle
2007-Wisconsin-Christina Thompson-Top 8-Praeludium & Allegro by Fritz Kreisler
2013 - Minnesota-Rebecca Yeh-4th Runner-up & Tal-Scherzo Tarantella by Henryk Weiniawski

Flute-8
1959-Pennsylvania-Lois Piercy-Top 10 & Tal-original composition Rain On the City (w/art display)
1969-Minnesota-Judy Mendenhall-4th Runner-up & Tal-Swiss Shepherd's Song by Pietro Morlachi
1973-Wisconsin-Judy Hieke-1st Runner-up-Medley incl Cuanto Le Gusta
1974-TEXAS-SHIRLEY COTHRAN-MISS AMERICA 1975-Bumble Boogie & Swingin Shepherd Blues
1977-Oregon-Suzanne Bunker-Top 10-Fantasie for Flute
1979-Iowa-Lori Froeling-Top 10-Carnival of Venice
1989-Colorado-Debbie Riecks-2nd Runner-up-Shenandoah & Duelin' Banjos
2002-Texas-Lisa Dalzell-Top 10-Shenandoah & Duelin' Banjos

Marimba-5

1963-Alabama-Judy Short-Top 10 & Tal-Horst Toccata

1989-MISSOURI-DEBBYE TURNER-MISS AMERICA 1990 & Tal-Flight of the Bumble Bee, Csardas, Can-Can

1990-South Carolina-Mary Gainey-1st Runner-up-Scherzo for Marimba in C

1992-South Carolina-Carrie Lee Davis-Top 10-Csardas

1999-Alabama-Julie Smith-Top 10-Flight of the Bumble Bee & Csardas

Accordion-5
1954-Florida-Ann Gloria Daniel-1st Runner-up-Lady of Spain
1957-California-Lorna Anderson-3rd Runner-up-Dark Eyes
1971-Nevada-Joan Burachio-Top 10-Csardas
1979-Ohio-Tana Carli-1st Runner-up & Tal-Tea for Two & Dizzy Fingers
1981-Indiana-Pam Carlberg-3rd Runner-up-Sabre Danse & Ritual Fire Dance

Harp-4
1970-New York-Katherine Karlsrud-Top 10-Whirlwind by Carlos Salzedo
1974-California-Lucianne Buchanan-1st Runner-up-Concerto in B flat
1979-Kansas-Michelle Whitson-2nd RU-Never On Sunday
1984-UTAH-SHARLENE WELLS-MISS AMERICA 1985-Mis Noches Sin Ti (w/Vocal)

Organ-2
1957-COLORADO-MARILYN VAN DERBUR-MISS AMERICA 1958-Tea for two & Tenderly
1971-Idaho-Karen Herd-1st Runner-up-Ebb Tide & Espana Cani

Saxophone-2
1976-Texas-Carmen McCullom-2nd Runner-up & Tal-Wabash Cannonball, If He Walked Into My Life, Yakety Sax
1977-South Carolina-Catherine hinson-2nd Runner-up-What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life & Flight '76

Banjo-1972-Delaware-Catherine Lawton-Top 10-Banjo Memories
Cello-2003-Wisconsin-Tina Sauerhammer-2nd Runner-up & Tal-The Swan
Clarinet-1979-Florida-Marti Phillips-4th Runner-up-Rhapsody in Blue & Begin the Beguine


Questions, corrections, feedback, or suggestions?  Post on the CROWNED Facebook page or email me at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

Piano Players

Classical and popular pianists have been a consistent staple in the Top 10.  Over the last 60 years (1954-2014, the television era), states have sent an average of 8 piano players to Miss America.  Utah has sent 16, and New Hampshire has only sent 2.

Except for a slight dip in 2000's, each decade starting with the 60's has seen between 12-15 pianists make Top 10, which is an average of 1 or 2 each year:

1954-1959:        2
1960-1969:      12
1970-1979:      15
1980-1989:      15
1990-1999:      14
2000-2009:   9
2010-2014:     7 (the decade is on track to see 13-14 piano players in Top 10 by 2019)

We've had three pianists make Top 10 in five (5) separate years:
1969 (Sheryl Akaka-Hawaii, Georgina Hossfeld-Massachusetts, and Cheryl Carter-New Jersey)
1975 (Tawny Godin-New York, Ann Shmalzried-Florida, Cynthia Carpenter-Masschusetts)
1976 (Barbara Jennings-Maryland, Donna Grotberg-North Dakota,  and Lavinia Cox-South Carolina)
1989 (Virginia Cha-Maryland, Leah Kay Lyle-Texas, Jennifer Wall-Washington)
1990 (Marjorie Vincent-Illinois, Cynthia White-Oklahoma, and Shannon DePuy-Virginia).

Years with no pianists in Top 10: 54, 55, 56, 59, 60, 62, 71, 80, 87, 92, 93, 98, 07, 08, 09

Miss Americas who played piano in talent competition
Bess Myerson (Miss New York City 1945) Concerto in A minor (Grieg) & Summertime (on flute)
Neva Jane Langley (Miss Georgia 1952)  Toccata (Khachaturian), Talent Prelim Winner
Debra Dene Barnes (Miss Kansas 1967) Born Free
Phyllis George (Miss Texas 1970) Promises, Promises & Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
Tawny Godin (Miss New York 1975) Images in Pastels (original composition)
Marjorie Vincent (Miss Illinois 1990) Fantasie Impromptu (Chopin), Talent Prelim Winner
Teresa Scanlan (Miss Nebraska 2010) White Water Chopped Sticks (Calvin Jones), Talent Prelim Winner
*I have chosen to NOT include Cheryl Prewitt or Kellye Cash since I consider them to be primarily vocalists who accompanied themselves on the piano.

States with the MOST piano players (1954-2014-the tv era)
UTAH-16
including Top 10 Finalist Jaclyn Hunt (2001), Top 16 Semi-Finalist Kara Arnold (2012), and Non-Finalist talent award winners Sally Peterson (1972), Lynn Lambert (1983), Sophia Symko (1988-also a Preliminary Talent Winner), Elizabeth Anne Johnson (1991), Amanda Moody (1995-also a Preliminary Talent Winner), Mary McDonough (1997), and Jami Palmer (2000).
IDAHO-14
including Non-Finalist Talent award winners: Judith Steubbe (1964), Stephanie Kambitsch (1981), Sadie Quigley (2007), and Whitney Wood (2012).
VIRGINIA-14
including 1st Runner-up Cullen Johnson (1995), Top 10 Finalists-Shannon DePuy (1990), and Nancy Redd (2003); and Non-Finalist Talent award winners Terri Bartlett (1977), Lora Flattum (1992), and Michelle Kang (1996).
WASHINGTON-12
including Top 10 Finalists Jennifer Wall (1989) & SoYoung Kwon (1991) and Top 15 Semi-Finalist Amanda Beers (2002).
WISCONSIN-12
including Top 10 Finalist Keungsuk Kim (1981), Top 12 Semi-Finalist Paula Kuiper (2013), and Non-Finalist Talent award winners Tricia Luedtke (1990), Maria Kim (1987-also a Preliminary Talent Winner), Marilyn Sembell (1975), and Lynn Holden (1956).

States with the FEWEST piano players (1954-2014-the tv era)
4 each-CALIFORNIA(but all four made Top 10 at Miss America), COLORADO,  GEORGIA, & OHIO
3 each-CONNECTICUT & WEST VIRGINIA, 
2-NEW HAMPSHIRE

States with the MOST pianists in TOP 10
ALABAMA-7-Leigh Sherer 1995, Jenny Jackson 1988-4th RU, Angela Callahan-1986, Pam Battles-1983-2nd RU, Yolanda Fernandez-1982-3rd RU, Dellynne Catching-1968, Delores Hodgens-1961, 
TEXAS-6-Kendall Morris-2011, Jamie Story-2004, Michelle Martinez-1996, Leah Kay Lyle-1989, Sandi Miller-1978, Phyllis George-1970, 
CALIFORNIA-4-Rita Ng-2000-2nd RU, Susan Shipley-1973, Charlene Dallas-1966-1st RU, Sandra Jennings-1958
MASSACHUSETTS-4-Lauren Kuhn-2014-4th RU, Marcia Turner-1995, Cynthia Carpenter-1975, Georgina Hossfeld-1969

WHAT DID THEY PLAY?
(Chopin and Gershwin, mostly)

CHOPIN (12 selections)
Fantasie Impromptu-Missouri 1979-Top 10; Alabama-1982-3rd RU; Illinois 1990-Miss America & Tal Prelim; Tennessee 2001
Etude in C# minor, # 4, Opus 10-Minnesota 1984 & Talent Prelim; Illinois 1999
Polonaise in G# minor-New Mexico 1985; Georgia 2005
Revolutionary Etude-Virginia 1990
Scherzo # 2 in B flat minor-Oregon 1997
Ballade # 1 in G minor-Texas 1996
Etude # 1, Opus 25-Maryland 1989 & 1st RU

GERSHWIN (7 selections)
Medley of Gershwin songs-Pennsylvania 1972 & Tal Prelim; Pennsylvania 1977 & Tal Prelim; Alabama 1983 & 2nd RU
Rhapsody in Blue-Tennessee 1963 & Mississippi 2002
Second Concerto in F minor-Texas 1978
Gershwin Prelude-West Virginia 1964

RACHMANINOFF (5 selections)
Second Concerto-Utah 2001
Prelude in G minor, Opus 23-North Dakota 1997
Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini-Oklahoma 1990
Polichinelle-Maryland 1976
Prelude in E flat Major-Hawaii 1969

Other selections/composers
Malaguena-California-1973, Massachusetts 1975 & Talent Prelim; Virginia 2003
Warsaw Concerto-Iowa-1968, Alabama 1988
Debussy's Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum-Maryland 1967; Alabama 1968
Debussy's Fireworks-Oklahoma 1982
Debussy's Clare de Lune-California 1958
Debussy's Gardens in the Rain-Florida 1975
Grieg's Concerto in A minor-Massachusetts 1969 (w/Bumble Boogie); Nevada 1957
Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody-Alabama 1961, Iowa 1991 & Talent Prelim
Liszt's Totentantz-North Carolina 1995 (Lisa Bamford-Talent Prelim & Non-Finalist Talent Award)
Beethoven's Sonata No. 23 (Appassionata)-California 1990, Tal Prelim
Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 (Pathetique)-Virginia 1994
Tchaikovsky's Concerto in B minor-Ohio 1974 & Talent Prelim
Khachaturian's Toccata-California 1966 & Talent Prelim
Liszt's Mephisto Waltz-Washington 1991
Copland's The Cat and The Mouse-North Dakota 1976
Kabalevsky's Preludes-Wisconsin 1981
Prokofiev's Toccata-Oregon 1981
Ginastera's Sonata in C, 4th mvmt-Texas 1989
Gottschalk's Souvenirs d'Andalousie-Massachusetts 1995
Mendelssohn's Concerto No 1 in G minor-Texas 2004
Dvorak's New World Symphony-Texas 2012
Dance of the Bullfighter-New York 1984 & Talent Prelim
Toccata (Tauriello) and Nocturne (Grieg)-Nebraska 1978 & Talent Prelim

Chopsticks/Classical medley-Ohio 1985 & Talent Prelim
Whitewater Chopped Sticks-Nebraska 2011-Miss America & Talent Prelim
Valse Dramatico-Massachusetts 2014-4th RU
I Want You Back-South Carolina 2012-1st RU
Hallelujah Chorus-Louisiana 2010-3rd RU
El Cumbanchero-Mississippi 2006-3rd RU
Theme from The Apartment-Mississippi 2000-3rd RU
Theme from The Piano-Connecticut 1999
Carmen medley-Alabama 1995 (with classical vocal)
Opus 706-Washington 1989
Windmills of Your Mind-Alabama 1986
Medley of classical music-Arkansas 1986 (with vocal)
The Man I Love & Sunny-South Carolina 1976-1st RU
Stardust-New Jersey 1973-2nd RU
Promises, Promises & Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head-Texas 1970-Miss America
Theme from An Affair to Remember-New jersey 1969-2nd RU
Born Free-Kansas 1967-Miss America
Variations on There She Is, Miss America-South Carolina 1965-1st RU & Talent Prelim

Original compositions-Wyoming 2013-3rd RU; Louisiana 1996-1st RU; New York 1975-Miss America

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