Flannery, Tereza collaborate and win MTNA award

Pianist John Flannery '24 received a $2,500 award from the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) after performing his composition titled "My Body Turns Toward Thee Again" with vocalist Abriana Tereza '24 at the annual MTNA conference. 

Flannery said the piece was inspired by his work with dementia patients and how they never lost their individuality even while struggling with the illness.

While the piece is Flannery’s creation, he said it was a team effort with Tereza. "The piece was mostly collaborative, as her insights shaped the piece just as much as the work that I did," he explained.

"I have had the pleasure to collaborate with John over the past couple of years on this piece, and it has been such a rewarding process," Tereza said. "It was truly a valuable experience, and I am so grateful to have been a part of it!"

Flannery described the award as "a spectacular honor … I am so incredibly thankful to the judging committee and MTNA for honoring this work."