Named in memory of longtime Levine voice faculty member Charles Williams and his wife, Ruth Williams, this competition is open to Levine students ages 13 and up. The 2025 competition took place on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Contestants in the Youth and Adult divisions perform two pieces that contrast in style and period.
Charles Williams began his teaching career at Levine in 1983 and continued to be a force in the department until his passing in December 2022. Charles hailed performances from the world’s greatest stages, including Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera. A consummate artist and educator, Charles inspired the highest work ethic in each of his students, many of whom have become esteemed performers and instructors.
Charles and Ruth were married for sixty years. They lived in West Berlin for two decades before moving to Virginia and joining the Levine community. As a poet and artist, Ruth’s artwork adorned Levine’s walls on many occasions throughout the years, and her poetry was set to music and performed by Charles.
Awards
Congratulations to all the finalists and their extraordinary teachers!
Adult Division
First place: Tess Troha-Thompson, student of Nakia Verner
Second place: Shannon Kellman, student of Marilyn Moore
Honorable mentions: Alexander Adams, student of Sonia Yon, and Cherrie Van Hook, student of Ellie Kim
Piano Intermediate Division
First place: Zhaohong Zhang, student of Sonia Yon
Second place: Diandra Mayo, student of Sonia Yon, and Ava Spera, student of Keith Edward
Honorable mention: Liam Wang, student of Sonia Yon
Special thanks to: Maxfield Wollam-Fisher, competition organizer; Darya Gabay, collaborative pianist; Celine Mogielnicki and Caitlin Wood, competition judges; and Levine campus staff.
Levine Music gratefully acknowledges the support of Rosemary George for underwriting this competition, as well as the support of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts.