WHEATON — Junior Daniel Cheng won first place in the Illinois State Music Teachers Association senior-level piano competition held Saturday at Wheaton College.

The ISMTA competition invites young accomplished musicians from across the state of Illinois to perform. The senior division is the highest age grouping (15-18 as of Jan. 1, 2009).

To advance to the state level, musicians must first receive a 1 rating in their district competitions.

Cheng played four pieces in his first-place performance:

• "Rondo Capriccioso" (Opus 14) by Felix Mendelssohn
• "Prelude and Fugue in D major" (BWV 850) by J.S. Bach
• "Sonata in D minor" (Opus 51 no. 2, third movement) by Ludwig van Beethoven
• "Winter Wind Etude" (Opus 25) by Frederic Chopin

All piano pieces had to be played from memory.

Senior-level competitions were also held Saturday for voice, woodwinds, brass, and strings. The winners were invited to play in the honors recital later that day. Cheng played his Beethoven sonata.

The solo competition winners each received a $100 cash prize.

Cheng has been studying the piano for nine years with instructor Susan Crawford.

Also at the ISMTA competitions, subfreshman Chelsea Edwards won honorable mention in the junior-level piano contest.