Antonio “Nio” Ajero

Antonio “Nio” Ajero of Nacogdoches advances to South Central Division round of the Music Teachers National Association Senior Piano Performance Competition after recently winning the Texas state round of the competition at the University of Houston.


NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Antonio “Nio” Ajero of Nacogdoches will compete as a division finalist in the Music Teachers National Association South Central Division Senior Piano Performance Competition.

Ajero, the son of Mario and Gina Ajero, earned the opportunity after winning the Texas State round of the MTNA Senior Piano Performance Competition Nov. 13 at the University of Houston. A senior at Nacogdoches High School, Ajero has been studying piano for 14 years and is currently a student of Minhae Lee at the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music and Linda Parr in SFA’s Music Prep Division. He previously studied with Andrew Parr, professor emeritus of piano at SFA.

Ajero will advance to the South Central Division round, and if he wins the division, he will advance to the National Finals held at the 2022 MTNA National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in March.

The three-tiered MTNA competitions begin at the state level. Winners of each state competition advance to the division competition. Division winners then proceed to the national level.

To receive more information about MTNA National Competitions, call (888) 512-5278, email mtnanet@mtna.org or visit the website at www.mtna.org.

Music Teachers National Association is a nonprofit organization comprised of 17,000 independent and collegiate music teachers committed to advancing the value of music study and music making to society and to supporting the professionalism of music teachers. Founded in 1876, MTNA is the oldest professional music association in the U.S.