Submitted Photo Zarin Mehta performs in Rosch Recital Hall.

Winners of the Seventh Claudette Sorel Piano Competition at the State University of New York at Fredonia School of Music have been announced from among the finalists.

The young pianists – all between the ages of 15 and 18 from across the United States and Canada – presented unique programs for jury and live audiences at Rosch Recital Hall on Nov. 6.

Individual winners were:

¯ Zarin Mehta, 15, of Chicago, a student of Winston Choi and Jeff Panko, First Place, $4,000.

¯ Helaine Zhao, 16, Irvine, Calif., a student of Rufus Choi, Audience Choice Award, $1,000, and Performance of a Contemporary Piece Award, $1,500.

Additional prizes went to: Luyao “Zachary” Guo, 16, Darien, Conn, $500 Creative Programming Award; David Choi, 15, Los Angeles, $500 Jury Discretion Award; and Xiaozhou Xu, 17, New York City, $500 Performance of Chopin’s Polonaise, Op. 44 Award.

Following approximately three hours of performances, the jury deliberated while audience members voted for the Audience Choice Award recipient. Serving on the awards jury were: School of Music Associate Professor Eliran Avni, competition director; along with Jiyong Kim and Dr. Xiting Yang, both of the School of Music, and Steven Bianchi and Dr. Allison d’Amato.

The competition is named for pianist and SUNY Distinguished Professor Claudette Sorel, a former member of the Fredonia School of Music faculty, and is supported by a foundation she founded. The Sorel Organization intends to create opportunities for women in composition, conducting, piano, voice and film scoring and to keep musical excellence alive while expanding the boundaries for women in music.