Westborough resident, 8, wins top piano honors

Grace Cheng

Westborough - Grace Cheng, 8, came in first in her age group for piano at the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association's 39th Annual Bay State Contest.

Held at Fitchburg State College May 12, the contest included more than 200 music students from across the state. She competed in the group 11b for 7-year-olds because she was 7 at the April 1 cut-off date. Teachers are allowed to enter only one student per age group in the contest.

Cheng studies piano with Dorothy Shi of Newton and practices piano 40 minutes a day. She also studies violin, practicing 30 minutes a day. She attends Hastings Elementary School, where she will enter the third grade in the fall. She also takes karate.

Her parents are Rich and Tina Cheng, and she has a brother Michael, 9, and a sister Lizzy, 3.