Dr. James M. Stevens of Welch College was recently named as a winner in the 2015 Steinway Piano Composition Contest for his arrangement of the classic devotional hymn, “Near the Cross,” written for the intermediate pianist. The contest was sponsored by SMP Press (Sheet Music Plus), Steinway Piano, and Composers Inc. Stevens also received an honorable mention for his original composition, “Silent Stars.”
The cash prize includes an invitation to San Francisco, CA where his composition will be performed in concert by one of the Steinway artists. Dr. Stevens’s piano compositions and books have consistently been in the top ten best sellers at Sheet Music Plus, the world’s largest sheet music dealer where over 350 of his works can be found listed with his James M. Stevens Music ASCAP publishing company.
According to Welch College Provost, Dr. Greg Ketteman, “We are obviously very proud of Dr. Stevens. He is a highly-skilled, prolific composer and arranger who is viewed as world-class by his professional peers. His continuing professional work provides an ideal context for Welch College students to be challenged as they develop their God-given talents.”
Stevens is a graduate of Samford University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the University of Kentucky where he received a Doctorate in Music Composition. He has served as the Music Department Chairman at Welch College since 2004.