Local newspapers have published the following articles, recording a sampling of the public accomplishments of my students. Public performance is an important part of the educational process because it forms the students in more than mere playing ability.

Recognition For Young Talented Pianists

Four of our area’s finest aspiring pianists were award winners at the Contemporary Music Festival, held May 11th on the campus of Saddleback Community College.

Jonathan Sandu, age 11 from Irvine and Evan Roth, age 11 from Dove Canyon, shared first place in the competition’s "11-year-old and under" division. Jonathan "Song of the Calvary" by Kabalevsky, and Evan performed "Toccatina, Op. 27" also by Kabalevsky. Hannah Ng, age 12 from Trabuco Canyon placed second in the "12- to14-year-old" division, performing "Etude No. 5" by Khachutarian, while Monique Kuwahara, are 10 from Laguna Niguel, placed third in the "11-year-old and under" division, performing Sonatina by Kabalevsky. The four award winners are all piano students of Tatyana Huft, a piano and voice teacher at Rancho Canyon Music in Rancho Santa Margarita.

The Orange Coast Cities Branch of the Music Teachers Association of California presented the festival. This competition required musicians to focus on music composed in the 20th Century. More than 200 young pianists performed during the festival, students of 54 different local instructors.

This is not the first competition for either Sandu or Roth. Both were performers at the Fifth Annual Sylvia Ghigliere Piano Competition, held in April of this year at California State University at Stanislaus. Sandu received an Honorable Mention at the event, performing pieces by Back and Mozart. They had also performed at a Back Festival earlier this year. This was the first competition for Ng and Kuwahara.

Local Award Winning Pianists

Ten local pianists were award winners at the recent Contemporary Festival, held at Saddleback College. These musicians are students of private piano instructors at Rancho Canyon Music in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Danny Nasol, age 38, took 1st Place in the State of California in the Composers Division for his composition.

Ballade in Db. In the Festival’s division for ages 11 and under, Mallory Roth, age 7, was awarded a 1st Place medal for her performance of Kabalevsky’s Waltz. Kayla Matthews, age 8, took 2nd Place Honors for her rendition of Kabalevsky’s, Toccatina, as did Daniel Suarez, age 8, for Shostakovich’s, Organ Grinder. Kelsea Suarez, age 7, received an Honorable Mention for her performance of Ugoriskaya Folk Song by Bartok. Evan Roth, age 12, participated in the 12- to 14 division and won 2nd Place for Etude No. 5 by Khatchaturian. All 6 pianists study under Tatyana Huft. ...