Minnetonka High School's Eric Sargent Performed Tuesday on MPR

A Minnetonka High School student is one of 15 finalists in Minnesota Public Radio's Varsity Contest.

Eric Sargent was featured on the radio Tuesday afternoon, speaking and then the song he recorded at MPR's studio was played. 

Minnesota Varsity, a contest that MPR created for music students in grade 9-12. MPR has judges, but also includes online listener voting, which takes place March 18-24.

To participate in Minnesota Varsity, music students from across the state were invited to submit a recording of themselves performing. The recording did not have to be professional quality and could be as simple as a smartphone recording. 

For the composition category, student composers were invited to submit an original score for flute, oboe and clarinet.

Minnesota Public Radio judges chose 15 instrumental and vocal entrants for the Featured Round. Featured Round Artists were invited to MPR's Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio in St. Paul for a professional recording session. 

Listeners will choose one of the five Showcase Artists who will perform at the Fitzgerald Theater in April.

The Showcase Artists will then perform on stage a live radio broadcast. The Showcase Composers' works will be premiered at the Fitzgerald Theater as part of the live broadcast.

TUNE IN: Classical MPR can be heard in the Twin Cities on KSJN 99.5 FM. A complete list of Classical MPR stations can be accessed online at mpr.org/stations.

Sargent plays Zoser, in MHS's "AIDA" this spring.