Student violinist wins national competition sponsored by music teachers’ group
Roni Shitrit, a second-year undergraduate violinist, has won first prize in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artist Competition for senior-level performers of stringed instruments. Shitrit, who studies with Ida Bieler and Janet Orenstein in the School of Music, performed ”Paganiniana” by Nathan Milstein for the virtual competition.
“Winning the national competition of MTNA is a significant achievement for Roni,” said Interim Dean of Music Saxton Rose. “MTNA nurtures collaboration among music educators across the country, and sponsors competitions that allow students to polish their performance skills and supplement their funding for educational expenses. We are very proud that our colleagues at MTNA have recognized Roni’s considerable talent and her hard work.”
Roni Shitrit won first prize in a national competition for string players.
In 2017, Shitrit was a prizewinner in the national competition of the Ministry of Education in her native Israel. She began her violin studies with Oscar Shraiberman at the Ramla, Israel, conservatory when she was 5 years old. She was a member of the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra of the Jerusalem Music Center. She participated in the David Goldman Program for Outstanding Young Musicians, the Huberman Program, Keshet Eilon Music Center, and the Ilona Feher Violin Program.
Shitrit has participated in master classes with many renowned violinists, including Benjamin Schmidt, Miriam Fried, Grigory Kalinovsky, Itzhak Rashkovsky, Michaela Martin, Michael Kopelman, Hagai Shaham and Daniel Heifetz, among many others. She received scholarships from the American-Israel Cultural Foundation and the Rotary Club in Ramla for performances she gave.
The MTNA National Competitions are among the most prestigious competitions in the country. Each year, thousands of students of all ages compete for top prizes and national recognition. This year MTNA showcased performances and compositions from this year’s first-place winners as a part of the 2021 MTNA Virtual Conference.
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February 25, 2026