Lawrence University violinist Claude Halter won the senior division of the 2003 Wisconsin American String Teachers Association (ASTA) competition Saturday, Nov. 8 held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A junior from Vicennes, France, and a student of assistant professor Stephane Tran Ngoc, Halter performed the first movement of the Sibelius’ “Violin Concerto” and Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz-Scherzo.” He was awarded $100 as a first-place prize.By winning the state competition, Halter qualifies for the semifinals of ASTA’s national competition, which will be conducted by audio tape of state performances. A jury will select participants to perform in the national finals, which will be held March 11-13, 2004 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.