Fall Festival and Judged Recitals

Seasons Greetings! I hope everyone is enjoying winter break this week. In our house, a festively decorated Christmas tree is bringing a lot of cheer in addition to creatively wrapped gifts waiting to be open. It has become a tradition in our studio to have a Group Class in December. Students could accomplish some theory work, perform solo pieces, play fun board games and enjoy sweets. It was great to see you all together!

Time to give an update about the latest events we have attended during past two months.

VMTA Fall Festival was held the first week of November.

Superior- Reyna, Jacqui, Sophia, Raelyn, Michelle, Katherine, Lucy and Nicole

Nicole performed Etude by E. MacDowell and Sonata by Shishido at NVMTA Judged Recital in November. This recital was very well attended, there were 20 performers on the program for students 12 and under. Congratulations to Nicole!

NVMTA Judged Recital:

Nicole-Honors

Raelyn and Cameron at Jordan Kitts. This was Cameron’s (5) first recital.

SMC Honors: Cameron, Raelyn and Nicole

Raelyn participated in a very exciting and competitive WMTA Judged recital in Maryland. She played Variations on Russian Theme by Glinka. Congratulations to Raelyn for receiving Honors!

WMTA Judged Recital:

 Raelyn-Honors

As a growing tradition, we held a Holiday Recital at “Woodlands”. Students not only played solo repertoire, they also added holiday music, including several piano duets. 

Important dates:
January 4- NVMTA General Recital
January 11- VMTA Sight Reading Exam
February 7- VMTA Theory Exam

Fall, 2014

                     "Woodlands", October Recital

Welcome back! First quarter of school year has kept us busy. Most students have performed at one or two events this year already. Students are preparing programs for Virginia State Fall Festival. Please check back for information regarding location and directions.

NVMTA General recital was attended by Nicole, Sophia, Reyna, Jacqui, Raelyn and Michelle.

      Raelyn with her younger sister, Cameron

 Raelyn received Honors at AAMS Competition past weekend.

"Woodlands" community welcomed us back for our first recital at the end of September, and second student recital at the end of October.

Cindy (violin) accompanied by Lucy

 Michelle and Charlotte

Upcoming events/dates to save:

11/22- SMC Recital at Jordan Kitts

11/23-NVMTA Judged Recital at AWC

12/7-"Woodlands" Recital

1/11- VMTA Sight Reading Exam at GMU

Achievements, 2013-2014

Raelyn at GMU

Old Dominion University Harold Protsman Classical Period Piano Competition:

Raelyn-First place, Level 1

Raelyn-Helen and Warren Aleck Special Award of $500 for the most promising overall performance in levels 1 to 3 

VMTA Fall Festival:

Superior- Sophia, Nicole, Raelyn, Katherine, Helen and Lucy.

 NVMTA Piano Ensemble Competition:

Level 2:

Sophia and Nicole- 1^st place

Level 3A:

Raelyn and Kayleigh- 3^rd place

Level 3B:

Maggie and Eli- 1^st place

Nicole and Sophia, Arlington

Young Artist Musicale at GMU: Raelyn

 NVMTA Judged Recital:

Lucy- Honors

Nicole-Honors

Eli- Honors

Charlotte- HM

Helen-HM

Bach Baroque Competition winners:

Katherine-Honors

Nicole-Honors

SMC Student Recital Honors:

 Katherine, Helen, Lucy, Angus, Maggie, Nicole, Sophia, Jacqui, Raelyn 

NVMTA Sonata Festival/Competition:

First round winners: Charlotte, Nicole, Lucy, Raelyn, Maggie

Finalists: Lucy, Raelyn, Maggie

WMTA Honors: 
Nicole

District Auditions:

Nicole –HM

Raelyn-HM

Piano Prodigy at US State Department: 

Nicole

Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall:

 Eli , Maggie

Highest  “Music Honors Award” of Fairfax County, VA: Angus Chang

NVMTA Piano Achievement Awards :

Nicole-HM

Raelyn-HM

 WMTA Viola Hartman Piano Awards:

Nicole-2^nd place

Raelyn-3^rd place

Sophia- Honorable Mention

NVMTA Concerto Festival:

 Grades k-3

Nicole- 1^st place

Sophia-2^nd place

Grades 6-7

Angus-2^nd place

 International Young Pianist competition:

Nicole- Honors

Sight Reading Exam top scores: Sophia, Jacqui, Charlotte

VMTA Theory Exam top scores: Lucy, Jacqui, Sophia

Asian American Competition:

Maggie, Raelyn- Honors

            Maggie at Carnegie Hall

June

                           Maggie with Sonata Honors ribbon

  Excitement is hard to miss as countdown is on for a "Have a Great Summer" bell at school, most of you already have made plans for international travel or fun summer camps. Before I get busy with my daughters’ swim team and other summer activities, I wanted to give you one more update.

Raelyn, Eli and Nicole were invited as winners of Judged Recitals to take part at NVMTA Honors Recital.

                                       With Lucy and Raelyn

Everyone received a shiny trophy from Sonata Festival at GMU.

First round winners: Charlotte, Nicole, Lucy, Raelyn and Maggie

Honors- Lucy, Raelyn, Maggie

                              "Woodlands", photo from SMC newsletter

Sophia, Jacqui, Helen, Katherine, Angus and Charlotte performed on the program of SMC Honors Recitals at “Woodlands”.

Nicole has been selected as a finalist of the International Young Artist Piano Competition. She will be performing in the final round this coming weekend.

Northern District Auditions: 

Nicole-HM

Raelyn-HM

Big thanks to all of you for the job well done this year! Snow days have made summer break much shorter, so please make the most of it.

Moving Forward

We are sending our warmest congratulations to several middle school students in our studio.

 Angus Chang, 7^th grade student,  received the highest “Music Honor Award” at Rocky Run Middle School. He has always successfully managed two instruments, piano and cello. Angus has been invited to play in Chamber Orchestra next year.

 Eli, 6^th grader, and Maggie, 8^th grader, spent past weekend in New York City. Both students were winners of AFAF competition, and were invited to perform at the Gala Concert at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. 

       Eli performs Sonatina in g minor by D. Kabalevsky

It is so great to see students enjoy music studies, keep on playing!

Event Files

  Month of May has marched in with more sunshine, I see happier faces ready to enjoy extra recess time at school. Past two weeks have been very busy, please see results:

Kayleigh and Raelyn

NVMTA Piano Ensemble Competition:

Level 2:

Sophia and Nicole- 1^st place

Level 3A:

Raelyn and Kayleigh- 3^rd place

Level 3B:

Maggie and Eli- 1^st place

Eli and Maggie

WMTA Hartman Piano Awards

Nicole-2^nd place

Raelyn-3^rd place

Sophia- Honorable Mention

NVMTA Piano Achievement Awards

This year, Elementary level had record number of 35 entrants for grades K-6 group.  We are very proud of Raelyn and Nicole!

Raelyn and Nicole- Honorable Mention

NVMTA Judged Recital:

Helen-HM

One more performance on studio event calendar and we are officially ready to finish school year. Everyone will be playing Sonatina or Sonata next weekend at GMU. Please check back for more information about it.