Southern California Junior Bach Branch results

I am always very happy when my students enter Junior Bach. Exploring and enjoying Bach's music takes some getting used to; I am very happy especially, when I can open the heart and thoughts of young students to this music of the greatest master of composition of all. Bach's music is a realm in itself weaving the parallel lines like a choir singing.

Bach's music is incredibly beautiful and profound. Last year, I took the time to study the work of Masuro Emoto a Japanese water researcher. He photographed the most beautiful water crystals after playing Bach's music for the water! Since our bodies are 75% water, I feel there is a profound uplifting benefit to teaching, practicing and performing Bach's music expressing the utter serenity and beauty that lies in this music.

That said, this was our Studio entry in the Riverside SCJBF Branch recitals:

First Last CWA Work 1 Mvts 1 Work 2 Mvts 2 Adam Ghilarducci Y Invention #5 in E Flat Major, BWV 776 Sebastian Gonzales N Invention #1 in C Major, BWV 772 Anais Perkins Y Invention #8 in F Major, BWV 779 Kathleen Nguyen  Phan Y Prelude & Fugue #11 in F Major, WTC I, BWV 856 Prelude Stacey Nguyen Phan Y Prelude & Fugue #23 in B Major, WTC I, BWV 868 Prelude Niranjana Premananthan N Invention #10 in G Major, BWV 781 Kelly Rausch Y Invention #3 in D Major, BWV 774 Patrick Xu Y Prelude & Fugue #8 in E Flat Minor, WTC I, BWV 853  Fugue

Everyone performed and performed beautifully. The auditions were held at RCC in Riverside on February 23, 2013. Kathleen Nguyen Phan was awared an Honorable Mention. Stacey Nguyen Phan, Niranjana Premananthan and Patrick Xu were selected Winners and invited to perform in the Regional Competition May 11, 2013.

Tara Romero completes Level 3 and Level 4 in the RCM auditions

Tara Romero is my first student to test in the brand new Music Development program from the Royal Conservatory of Music, formerly named the Carnegie Hall Achievement Program.
Tara successfully passed Level 3 on June 3, 2012 and Level 4 December 2, 2012 and she is preparing for her upcoming Level 5 examination.

I really enjoy this program in addition to the MTAC CM and the Piano Guild auditions. The Royal Conservatory of Music program is an International examination judged against International standards. The judges are flown in for the examination and only the highest standards are expected in preparation and performance. Performance of 5 pieces, scales, chords / cadences and arpeggios, sight-reading and ear-training are tested in the live examination.
The examination repertoire is a very narrow selection of actually varied and fun pieces; they all need to be from the same level, unlike the MTAC Certificate of Merit where one piece only needs to be from the level tested all others can be the same or a higher level.

I am looking forward to have several new students test in RCM as well, so they also can have the experience to quickly learn pieces on a comfortable difficulty level and polish them to perfection for the examination.

Inland Empire Piano Festival 2013, results

Cynthia Phan	Category IV-A	Chopin, Waltz Op 18	3rd place
Stacey Phan	II-C	Chopin, Waltz Op 34 no 3	Participant
Sharmini Premananthan	V-B	Chopin, Etude Op 25 no 1	Honorable Mention
Nira Premananthan	III-C	Chopin, Waltz Op 64 no 2	3rd place
Kelly Rausch	III-B	Chopin, Waltz Op 64 no 2	Participant
Ophelia Herabadi	I-A	Duvernoy, Song Without Words	Participant
Anais Perkins	IV-B	Joplin, Stop Time Rag	Honorable Mention
Patrick Xu	V-B	Chopin, Ballade #1, Op 23	3rd place
Sebastian Gonzales	III-D	Nazareth, Fon Fon	Participant
Sai Sivapalan	VI	Chopin, Ballade #2, Op 38	Participant

Escondido Music Festival January 26, 2013

Anais Perkins, Adam Ghilarducci and Sebastian Gonzales performed in the Escondido Music Festival. Their playing was well received. The judge awarded Superior ratings and trophies for their performances.

Rhapsody in Blue, Bret Paddock, piano (age 18)

Bret's performance of the Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue, please enjoy! March 31, 2012 4th place winner with the Inland Valley Symphony Youth orchestra

2013 New Year Concert - Franz von Suppé - Leichte Kavallerie

Happy New Year to everyone! From the traditional New Year's Concert in Vienna, with the Viennese Philharmonic.

Mozart Fantasia in d minor K 397 performed by Kelly Rausch

Kelly performed this Mozart fantasy in the Grace Presbyterian Church in Temecula in June 2012.

Waltz no1, op 18 in E flat Major - Chopin performed by Cynthia Nguyen Phan

Cynthia performs the Chopin Waltz no 1.  Cynthia started taking piano lessons with me 6 years ago; she is now in 9th grade. The recording was made yesterday at the Temecula library at the Inland Valley Symphony recital program. Please enjoy Cynthia's performance.

Black Birds - Trisha Leungsikul (6 years old) First Recital

I am looking forward to the next performances. Trisha started piano lessons mid June this year and already performed successfully a 10-piece Gold medal Piano Guild program.  this performance was recorded October 13, 2012 at the United Methodist Church in Temecula, at the TVMTA student recital.

Trumpet Man and My Best Friend - Odelia Herabadi (5 years old) First Recital

There is a beginning for everyone! So precious, these first times in a recital! Enjoy.