Third-grader a winning pianist

McAfee — Maya Rakoczy, a third-grader from Rolling Hills School, won first prize in her category playing Beethoven’s “For Elise” and Ellmenreich’s “The Spinning Song” in the recently held Sussex County Music Foundation Competition in Sparta. Maya has been studying piano for three years with Margaret Korczynski of McAfee, the owner of the Sussex County Music Workshop. “Maya has an unusual gift for detailed work, for such a young player, and is very musical,” said Korczynski. “Her performance carries the message of joy or excitement and produces a fine tone.” In the same category of Beginning Piano, two other Korczynski students won prizes. Siena Tipton from St. Joseph’s School in Newton won second prize and Mikhaila Sanchez, a home-schooler from Hamburg won third prize. All three winners in that category will be performing in on June 28 in Sparta. Korczynski is also the teacher of Clint Roe of Hardyston, the first prize winner in the category of Junior Piano, and second prize winner Kristen McCormack of Vernon, in the category of Intermediate Piano. Winners will be performing on June 28 at the Methodist Church in Sparta at 3 p.m. The students will be playing a variety of instruments — piano, violin, clarinet and others. For information about the recital, contact Margaret Korczynski at makorczynski @yahoo.com