Equestrian winner
Elizabeth Towell-Boyd of Finally Farm, Camden S.C., granddaughter of Lib Taylor of Salisbury, was a recent winner in the 2008 AHJF Hunter Classic Spectacular in Wellington, Fla., recently.
Boyd and the horse Fiyero were repeat winners of the CN Winter Equestrian Festival.
Twenty- nine combinations qualified to start in the WCHR Spectacular, which is in its 12th year, with the eight top pairs returning for the second round and vying to win a slice of the prize money of more than $40,000.
Boyd, 28, and Fiyero, an 11-year-old Regular Conformation gelding owned by Molly Gardner of Charlotte, and trained by father Jack and brother Hardin Towell, were the last to go before a large crowd in the newly refurbished International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
The pair scored a total of 178.750 points to beat close friend Kirsten Coe of Toluca, Calif., on Genuine who posted 178.499 points and last year’s winner, Tim Goguen of Wellington, on Angelo in third place with 176.749.
Boyd also rode her client Sarah Ward’s hunter Isaac to receive a fourth-place ribbon.
Piano contest
Twenty- three students participated in the 2008 Albemarle District Piano Contest-Festival of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association on March 8 at Catawba College.
Each student performed three memorized works selected from the official state contest music list for judge Hector Landa of Winston-Salem. The repertoire is chosen from Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary music periods.
Students earning a “superior” rating at Junior Level B and Senior Levels A and B may advance to the State Contest on April 5 at Wingate University.
The following MTA teachers from our area had students participate in the contest:
Tina Brown of Rockwell, Marsha Carter of China Grove, Frances McGill of Salisbury, Alisha Brown of Concord and Alma Rae Tucciarone of Albemarle.
Brown’s students were Rebecca Agner and Jordan Hartman.Carter’s students were Mc Kamie Harrison, Brittney Burgess, Meredith Oakley, Hannah Thompson, Catherine Ardoin, Kim Fesperman, Hannah Koontz, Amy Hinshaw, Iris Faggart, David Freeze and Hannah Freeze.
McGill’s student was Salem Hockett.
Toastmasters
Goldmine Toastmasters held a club level contest to choose the best Table Topics and International Speech participants on Feb. 28. More than 20 Toastmasters and guests were present. 
Five members competed. 
Wayne Jones presented a speech entitled “Bloom Where You Are Planted,” Brian Woolf spoke about “The Man With No Middle Name,” Lee Johnston on “Fact or Fiction!” Rusty Mitchell “The Difference Makers,” and Bill Battermann spoke about “Breaking The Barrier.”  
Sam Mullis, Al Minter and Kim Jackson vied for the Best Table Topic Award.
Woolf was awarded first place and Bill Battermann second in the speech competition. Sam Mullis won first place in the Table Topics category with Kim Jackson in second. 
Fred Biggers was welcomed as a new member during February. 
Winners chosen during the four weekly meetings were: Best Speakers ó Kim Jackson, Jay Nodine, Burt Hall and Rusty Mitchell. Best Evaluators ó Al Minter (twice), Betty Walker, and Kim Jackson. Best Table Topics winners were Brian Woolf, Wayne Jones, Sandy Boucher-Bessant and Jay Nodine.
McGill Music
McGill Music Studios had a studio recital Friday, Feb. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the studio in Salisbury.
Joining in the festivities were guests Mary Baker, Dr. and Mrs. John C. McGill of Kings Mountain, and Sherylle Smith of Concord.
Students performing were Clark Alcorn, playing “Prelude III” from “Three Preludes in Jazz Stylings” by O’Hearn; Eleanor Alcorn playing “Locrian Toccatina” by Vandall; Ginny Weant singing “Care Selve” by Handel; LeAnna Kim performing “Fur Elise” by Beethoven; Salem Hockett playing “Duetto” by Heller, “Oriental Flower by Norton, and “Sonata in G” by Scarlatti.
Belmont students included Ashley Jamison playing “Soldier Ant” by Leaf; Grace Russell performing “Soaring Through the Clouds” by Goldston; and Mary Hunter Russell performing “Determined” by Keveren.
Rennie Pearson played “Spirit of the Stallion” by Gutierrez; and Carmen McGill played “Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum” from Debussy’s “The Children’s Corner.”
Both of these students are from Gastonia.
After a game of Music Jeopardy to review music history and theory, the students had a pizza party.
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