MOUNT VERNON – Dr. JoAnn Koh-Baker has been congratulated by the Royal Conservatory of Music Program as the teacher of gold medalists and award winners.
This year, her piano students once again demonstrated outstanding achievement.
Natasha Jose and Philomena Odonkor both received the 2020 Gold Medal awards for attaining the highest examination mark in the country for their discipline and playing level. They were invited to perform at the Celebration of Excellence virtual recital in December last year. This event featured the superior musicality of the Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program's top students in the north-central region of the country.
In 2019, Natasha Jose was also the highest scorer in her playing level in the state, receiving the State Certificate of Excellence. Along with Jo-Ann Odonkor, who received the Center Certificate of Excellence, both girls were invited to perform at the Chicago Symphony Center in March 2020, but the recital was subsequently cancelled due to the pandemic.
Besides being recognized as winners of the Gold medal award, State certificate and Center certificate, all three girls — under the tutelage of Dr. JoAnn Koh-Baker — have attained a perfect score in past state events such as the Scale Olympics.
Dr. JoAnn Koh-Baker is professor of music at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Natasha Jose is a sixth grader at Mount Vernon Middle School and is the child of Jose Oommen and Pheba George. Jo-Ann and Philomena Odonkor are in fifth and second grades, respectively; they attend St. Vincent de Paul School and are the children of Patrick and Margaret Odonkor.
