Raelyn at Alden Theater

Raelyn performed a beautiful solo program at Alden Theater, McLean. Many of her friends, classmates, cousins and students from our studio came to support her. After recital, she could barely wrap her arms around all the colorful flower bouquets. Thank you for coming to hear Raelyn at Alden Theater!

 It was a very busy weekend for Raelyn. In addition to performing her program at Alden, Raelyn participated in Asian American Music Society Competition, and she is a 2nd place winner! Congratulations!

VA State Auditions

Jacqui after performance

  Congratulations to Jacqui, she is the 1st place winner of VA State Auditions! Competition was held during VMTA Fall Conference at Shenandoah University. Jacqui played compositions by J. Haydn, F. Chopin and J. Ibert.

    Jacqui and Nicole

  Nicole received HM for her performance! Nicole played  compositions by J. Haydn, M. Moszkowski and D. Kabalevsky.

  Both students, Jacqui and Nicole, represented Northern Virginia District at  VA State Auditions. Thank you to both students and their supportive families for their hard work and dedication to music studies!

Fall, 2016

Welcome back! Fall is picking up brighter colors as we wait for the first quarter report cards. This upcoming weekend, students will be participating in VMTA Fall Festival held at Cherrydale Methodist Church, 3701 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207. Fall Festival event signals time for us to show what we have accomplished during summer and first months of school year. 

  Several students held a Mini Recital at the end of September. It was a chance to perform new pieces, and perhaps give each other some useful suggestions regarding interpretation.

 First week of October, our studio visited Brightview at Sterling, VA. Residents enjoyed our program and we  are invited to come back for another recital in December. This was an opportunity to welcome Teddy and Kenneth to our studio, welcome!

  Raelyn and Jacqui attended NVMTA Judged Recital both students received HM, well done!

Kayleigh, Raelyn, Cameron and Nicole after  in NVMTA General Recital.

Achievements, 2015-2016

VMTA Northern District Auditions

Jacqui (level 1A)-1st place, going to state finals

Nicole (level 1B)-1st place, going to state finals

Sophia (level 1B)- 3rd place

Raelyn (level 1B)- HM

WMTA Young Composer Competition

Kayleigh- 2nd place

Modern Piano Music Competition

Raelyn- 1st place, cash award

Nicole- HM

Alden Auditions, selected for Young Soloist Recitals, 2016-2017

Nicole

Raelyn

IYAPC

Cameron, Raelyn- finalists

Knabe Young Artist Piano competition

Raelyn-3rd place, cash award

Young artist Musicale at GMU

Raelyn

Nicole

NVMTA Sonata Festival

1st round winners- Katherine, Kayleigh, Lucy

Honors-Jacqui, Nicole, Sophia, Raelyn

NVMTA Judged Recitals

Sophia -Honors

Nicole-Honors

Katherine-Honors

Raelyn-Honors

Kayleigh-Honors

Alec- HM

WMTA Hartman Piano Performance Awards

Group 6/7:  

Cameron- 2nd place

Group 9B:

Jacqui-1st place

group 11A:

Sophia G.- 2nd place

Group 11 C:

Nicole-1st place

Group 14:

Michelle -2nd place

NVMTA Piano Achievement Awards

Nicole- 2nd place, cash award

NVMTA Piano Duet Competition

Level 1;

Cameron/Raelyn- 2nd place

Level 2:

Jacqui/Sophia-2nd place

Level 3:

Raelyn/Kayleigh- 3rd place

Level 4:

Katherine/ Lucy-3rd place

Bach Baroque Festival/Competition

Superiors- Luke, Lucy, Nicole, Sophia G., Raelyn, Kayleigh

15 point award- Nicole

2nd round- Nicole, Raelyn, Sophia

Honors-Sophia

NVMTA Composition Competition

Kayleigh- Jo Lombard Award

H.Protsman Classical Period Piano Competition

 Nicole- 2nd place

VII Chopin International Piano Competition at Hartford, CT

Raelyn-3d place

Bland Contest

Nicole- 1 st place, cash award

Raelyn- 2nd place, cash award

NVMTA Piano Concerto Festival

Jacqui-1st place

Sophia W.-2nd place

SMC Honors

Katherine

Sophia W.

Sophia G.

Cameron

Nicole

Kayleigh
Raelyn

AAMS Competition

Raelyn-2nd place

NVMTA Fall Festival

Superiors-Sophia W., Luke, Jacqui, Nicole, Sophia G.

MTNA Competitions Competition

Kayleigh- advanced to Southern Division

Summer

    School is out! After cheerful and tearful last day of school, we can finally be ready for summer break. It has been a very busy but productive year indeed. I want to thank everyone, especially parents, for their dedication to piano studies this past season, thank you!

   I am excited to share a few more updates about June events.

Northern District Auditions
Level 1A:
Jacqui-1st place, cash award and going to VA State Finals in fall!

Level 1B:
Niolce-1st place, cash award and going to VA State Finals in fall!
Sophia G.-3rd place
Raelyn- HM

Cameron and Raelyn took part in IYAPC Competition. Both sisters were chosen as finalists and performed at CUA in June. Raelyn received HM.
Raelyn is one of six performers from IYAPC invited to perform Li-Ly Chang's composition "Island Sounds" at the Washington International Piano Festival on July 25th at CUA.

Nicole and Raelyn with other participants of MPMC

Nicole and Raelyn participated in Modern Piano Music Competition organized by WMTA.
Raelyn- 1st place, cash award
Nicole-HM

Kayleigh and Raelyn after WMTA Honors Recital

Congratulations to Kayleigh Hoang, she is a second place winner of the 2015 WMTA Young Composers Competition!

Enjoy your summer!

Knabe Young Artist Piano Competition

Inaugural event, William Knabe Young Artist Piano Competition was held at Earl and Darielle Linehan Concert Hall, University of Maryland. Preliminary round was judged by three distinguished judges for two days in two locations before finalists were announced.

Raelyn Hoang performed with great confidence in the preliminary round and was one of only 6 finalists selected in the age group of 10-13.

   Congratulations to Raelyn on winning 3rd place! She performed Impromptu in A flat major by F. Chopin. She received a lovely trophy and a cash award!

NVMTA Sonata Festival

Nicole, Jacqui and Raelyn after Honors Concert, GMU

This year, NVMTA Sonata Festival hosted 910 students. After listening to first round, judges invited 89 students to second round. 41 finalists were chosen to perform at the Honors Concert at GMU on May 22. Congratulations to all students who were chosen for 2nd round and received Honors!
  Luke, Cameron and Sophia W. played beautifully and received great reports from judges along with shiny trophies, well done!

Katherine after 2nd round

Lucy after 2nd round

Advanced to 2nd round: Kayleigh, Katherine, Lucy, Jacqui, Sophia G., Raelyn and Nicole
     Honors- Nicole, Raelyn, Sophia G. and Jacqui

Big thank you to NVMTA chairman, Ms. J.Bennett and Sonata Festival chairman, Ms. J. Kuo for all the hard work on making this event successful! 

WMTA Hartman Piano Performance Awards

Cameron gets her ribbon

Jacqui and Sophia

Nicole

Michelle with her friend Teddi Yoo

 This was the most joyful Mother's Day for all moms in our studio. It was great to hear all students who prepared beautiful programs for WMTA V.Hartman Piano Performance Awards. Many thanks to most dedicated moms for their hard work and willingness to spend the day in Washington DC.

  Congratulations to Sophia W., Katherine, Kayleigh and Lucy. They did a fantastic job!

Group 6/7:  

Cameron- 2nd place

Group 9B:

Jacqui-1st place

group 11A:

Sophia G.- 2nd place

Group 11 C:

Nicole-1st place

Group 14:

Michelle -2nd place

NVMTA Piano Achievement Awards

Nicole before performance

    Several students from our studio participated in a very competitive NVMTA Piano Achievements Awards Competition. Performers were required to play program representing three of the following four periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary.

  Nicole-2nd place

  Congratulations to Nicole on her stellar performance! There were 32 young pianists competing in level II, and she is a 2nd place winner!

NVMTA Piano Duet Competition

Cameron and Raelyn

Jacqui and Sophia

Lucy and Katherine

Kayleigh and Raelyn

  NVMTA Piano Duet Competition was another lovely event this year. Students enjoyed playing their pieces and hearing other wonderful players from different piano studios. Some teams are already planning repertoire for next year after hearing several exciting pieces performed by friends on the program. I am so excited to hear that many of my students  have strong opinions and they have a good idea what repertoire they would like to explore in future. Let's keep practicing duets, it is twice as nice!

Level 1;

Cameron/Raelyn- 2nd place

Level 2:

Jacqui/Sophia-2nd place

Level 3:

Raelyn/Kayleigh- 3rd place

Level 4:

Katherine/ Lucy-3rd place

NVMTA Judged Recital

                        

Nicole and Sophia, Arlington

   Two duet teams attended NVMTA Judged Recital in April, congratulations to double Honors! Sophia and Nicole played Sonata in D Maj. K 381, mvt 1 by Mozart and "Anitra's Dance" by Grieg. Raelyn and Kayleigh performed Slavonic Dance op.72 #2 by Dvorak and 'Troika" by Gavrilin.
 Congratulations to both teams!

Nicole/Sophia- Honors
Raelyn/Kayleigh-Honors

Bach Baroque Festival

Luke enjoyed Baroque Festival!

NVMTA Bach Baroque Festival/Competition was another wonderful event this past month on our busy calendar. All participants performed pieces by J.S. Bach and other Baroque composers at this festival. In addition, there was a unique opportunity for students and parents to try out well studied repertoire on a harpsichord, it was a lot of fun!

Superior rating at the festival:
Jacqui, Luke, Lucy, Nicole, Sophia, Raelyn, Kayleigh

15 point award- Jacqui, Nicole

Congratulations to students selected for 2nd round of the Competition:
 Nicole, Raelyn, Sophia

Nicole, Jacqui and Sophia G.

Congratulations to Sophia G., finalist of the competition!
 Honors recital at GMU- Sophia G.

Sophia will perform Prelude and Fugue in f minor from WTC II on 5/22 at Harris theater at GMU!

Kayleigh at NVMTA Composition Competition

   Kayleigh entered her composition "The Colors of Dreams" in NVMTA Composition Competition. She won Jo Lombard Award and received a cash award. This year, Kayleigh's work also advanced to MTNA Composition Competition, Southern Division. Way to go go, Kayleigh!

Kayleigh at the Awards Recital, Arlington

Nicole at H.Protsman Classical Competition

Nicole took part in 29th Harold Protsman Classical Period Piano Competition at Old Dominion University.
  Nicole played Haydn Sonata in  D major Hob XVI:24 and a movement from Sonata Hob. XVI: 22. She was one three finalist chosen to compete in the second round of the competition.
 Nicole is a 2nd place winner, congratulations!

  Nicole with judge Penelope Crawford

Raelyn at Chopin Piano Competition

 Raelyn participated in VII Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT. Young artists from many countries, including Japan, China, Korea and United States participated in this event. Students performed very diverse programs. Chopin piece was a requirement for every contestant. The judges of the competition represented Poland, Japan, Brazil and USA. There were 40 contestants in Junior group this year. 

   Raelyn performed  compositions by  F.Liszt, X.Montsalvatge in addition to Impromptu in A flat major by F. Chopin. She also participated in masterclass by Dr. Krystian Tkaczewski. 

  Ralyn is a III Prize winner of her first international competition, congratulations!!

Raelyn with Dr. Tkaczewski after Master Class

Spring Forward

Spring is here! Louder bird singing and brighter sun greet us every morning on our way to school. Luckily, last snow storm missed us. This week, students are enjoying a spring break before returning to a very busy last quarter of this school year. 

Luke enjoys music theory!

Theory Mastery Day was another success in our studio. All students took part in a VA State Music Theory Exam. 

Top scores go to: Cameron, Luke, Jacqui and Lucy

 We held two monthly recitals at "Woodlands" retirement place. It was a special treat to hear Sophia, Jacqui and their mom; they performed as a trio, thank you! 

  

 Nicole was invited to participate in Young Artist Musical at GMU. She performed 1st movement of a Sonata in D major Hob.XVI:24 by J. Haydn. All participating young musicians are invited to meet with Jeffrey Siegel afterwards.

Nicole and Michelle in Alexandria, VA

Congratulations to Nicole and Michelle! They received awards at Bland Competition District Competition. Nicole is a second place winner, and she also received a cash award. Michelle participated in this event as a violinist.

Sophia with her first ribbon!

Please mark your calendars for Piano Duet Festival on April 30th and NVMTA Sonata Festival at GMU on Sunday, May 15th.

NVMTA Judged Recitals

 Sophia

  Kayleigh

   Please see results from the last two NVMTA Judged Recitals. All students played exciting programs, and I am so happy to report results from these competitions. Congratulations to all students, everyone did a fantastic job!

Nicole- Honors
Raelyn- Honors
Sophia- HM
Kayleigh-HM

NVMTA Piano Concerto Festival

Sophia and Cameron

    Last week of February, Sophia, Cameron and Jacqui participated in NVMTA Piano Concerto Festival/Competition. Students grades K-3 played wide range of repertoire, it was an exciting weekend for all.

  Cameron played her first concerto with a lot of energy and confidence. Her older sister, Raelyn, did a fantastic job serving as an accompanist. Well done, Cameron!

   This was also a first Concerto Festival experience for Sophia W. She performed beautifully showing great ability to play with strong dynamics and perfect memory. She is a 2nd place winner, congratulations!

  Jacqui

Jacqui took a stage without any hesitations, and her concerto got everyones attention. I am so happy to announce that Jacqui won 1st place!!!

 Sophia G. participated in grades 4-12 Concerto event. She is a 2nd place winner, congratulations!

Alden Auditions

Raelyn,  after performance at GMU

Nicole and Raelyn prepared beautiful programs for Alden Auditions. Students were chosen for the Young Soloist Recitals that will showcase the talents of local school-age musicians for the upcoming 2016-2017 season. 

 Nicole performs at the regional Bland Competition

Raelyn and Nicole, both students, were chosen as young soloists and will be performing next season, congratulations!