Piano Notes – Studio Newsletter July 2011

The studio has been very busy this year; many of our students participated in various local, state, and national performance and assessment opportunities. These achievements were recognized at the recital. Congratulations to the following students:

Music Teachers Association of California -Temecula Valley Sonata/Sonatina Festival: Catherine Howard – Superior Rating, awarded trophy

California Association of Professional Music Teachers Piano Auditions: Jay Chen, Hans Chen, Catherine Howard, Katie Ocampo – Superior Rating, invited to perform for State Convention

Temecula Valley Music Teachers Association Student Recitals: Sam Luyen, Thien Sa Luyen, John Howard, Claire Howard, Catherine Howard, Katie Ocampo, Maggie Liu, Brennan Ruderman, Shania Jin, Meijke Balay-Mickelson – performed at Temecula United Methodist Church

MTAC-TV Student Musicale Recital: Jaden Oh, Sophie Luyen, Sam Luyen, Thien Sa Luyen, Maggie Liu, Meijke-Balay-Mickelson – performed at Temecula Public Library

Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music: Jason Hu – passed Grade 5 Theory with Distinction

MTAC Certificate of Merit: Catherine Howard – passed Level 5, selected for Temecula Valley Branch Honors

TVMTA Music Festival: Shania Jin, Thien Sa and Sam Luyen, Hailey Wiltse, Meijke Balay-Mickelson, Andreas Shaefer, Maggie Liu, Andrew Tang and Katie Ocampo – all received Superior Rating and awarded Double Gold Medal

National Piano Guild Auditions (May): Alexa Willis, Olivia Melton, Maggie Liu, Meijke Balay-Mickelson and Aubrey Mitschang – all are Gold winners

TVMTA Young Artist Piano Competition: Maggie Liu – participated, Andrew Tang – 2nd prize winner

National Piano Guild Auditions (July):

Emma, Hudson and Hunter Erickson, Manuela, Andreas and Joshua Shaefer, Sam and Thien Sa Luyen, Julia Choi, Jay and Hans Chen, Catherine, Claire and John Howard, Katie Ocampo, Andrew Tang, Hailey Wiltse – all are Gold winners

Click here to see the results.

In addition, the following special awards were presented at the recital:

Music Teachers National Association 2-year Music Study Award – Manuela Shaefer – Manuela was my first student in Murrieta, when I moved from Long Island to CA in September 2009. She came to my Murrieta Studio Grand Open Day, and has been a hard-working student ever since! Two of her sons, Joshua and Andreas, are also studying the piano now.

Solfege Singing Model – Joshua Shaefer – I teach all young beginners in Solfege and ask that they always sing in Solfege when they play. Joshua started lessons when he was 5 years old, and has been the most conscientious student in this area, consistently singing and counting every note every time he comes to his lessons! He just turned 6 years old, and is sitting his first National Piano Guild Auditions next week, performing an Elementary B National program (10 memorized pieces).

Most Improved Student – Emma Erickson – Emma is 5 years old, and started lessons in January this year. She is the youngest student from the studio sitting the National Piano Guild Auditions, performing a 10-piece memorized National Program. She has worked very hard and improved tremendously.

Studio Scholarship – Andrew Tang – Andrew has been a very hard working student. He received Double Gold Medal in the Temecula Music Festival, and is performing an International Program (20 memorized pieces) for the National Piano Guild Auditions. Earlier in June, he participated in the Temecula Young Artist Piano Competition and was awarded 2nd place winner. There were 20 participants in his age group, and everyone was absolutely amazing. Andrew also plays the Clarinet and has recently been accepted into the Inland Valley Youth Orchestra.

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