Yesterday evening, eleven year old (soon to be twelve!) Orion Kim was named the First Place Winner of the 13th annual Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum (MMTF) Mozart Concerto Competition!! As a result, he will have the opportunity to perform a solo concerto movement with orchestra for the very first time. This is such an important "watershed moment" in the life of a budding young pianist and Orion (in typical fashion) will make the very most of it. He will have two formal p

Yesterday, our great Nita Qiu took Second Place in the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra's Rising Stars Competition. Nita gave stunning performances in both Prelims and Finals of the first movement of Chopin's Concerto No. 2 in F minor. The Rising Stars Competition is one of the most highly respected and competitive regional competitions in the upper mid-west. It now invites pianists and instrumentalists from four states: Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The competiti

One week ago yesterday, January 13, Beatrice (Bea) Grant and Nita Qiu, both fifteen, auditioned at the Golden Valley Orchestra's Young Artists Competition for an opportunity to perform with the orchestra. Both Bea and Nita were among those selected to perform with the orchestra!! We are so happy for both of these very deserving young women. As a result of this award, Bea will have the opportunity to perform with orchestra for the very first time, and Nita will be able to a