On Sunday afternoon, June 30th, we had another in a long line of Alumni performances over the years. This one featured three of the greatest talents to have ever risen from the firmament of our studio. Pianists Austin Frohmader, Will Gannon, and Gloriana Wolf gave unforgettable performances of three German Romantic Masterpieces.

Over the past 4 months of this 2023-2024 concert season, Andre Peck's student career has simply exploded. Just as I was about to write about his latest artistic endeavor he encompassed another and yet another until I decided to wait and just write an overview of his artistic feats during this season so far. I last wrote about Andre last December, so I will try to catch up to his artistic pursuits!

Last night, our fourteen-year-old Andre Peck was awarded First Place in the annual St. Paul Piano Teachers Concerto Competition (SPPTA), giving a vehement performance of the first movement of Saint-Saens Concerto No. 2 in G minor. In addition to a monetary award, Andre will be presented in concert with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra at Bethel University's Great Benson Hall.

In my most recent writing, I posted an account of our great Andre Previn Peck's achievement of reaching the finals of the Nashville Chopin International Piano Competition. Now, I am so happy to report that our amazing Katherine Asia Hibbs has also reached the finals of the 6-10 year-old age category.

As many of you know, National Public Radio (NPR) broadcasts its legendary radio program From the Top every Sunday at 12:00 noon. Our brilliant Andre Peck (13) was just awarded the great honor of being named a '23 - '24 From the Top Fellow! This program has become a "right of passage" for the most gifted and talented pre-college musicians our country has to offer.

Last Sunday, June 11th, our Andre Peck (13) presented his Eighth Grade Graduation Recital at the gorgeous Cappella Performing Arts Center in his home town of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Andre offered a gigantic 90-minute program of solo works, concerto movements, and chamber works to an overflow audience of 150 or so specially invited music lovers.

Last weekend, as the Winner of the Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum (MMTF) Mozart Concerto Competition, Andre Peck (13), gave an absolutely stunning performance of the 2nd and 3rd movements of Mozart's Concerto in C Major, K. 467. Performed for a large audience at St. Albert The Great Church in south Minneapolis, Andre's slow movement was a model of beauty with the melody floating in a serene stream above the orchestral counterpoint.

Yesterday, The Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum held their annual Mozart Piano Concerto Competition at Schmitt Music Auditorium in Bloomington. Our thirteen-year-old Andre Peck, resident of La Crosse, Wisconsin, was chosen as the First Place Winner! Andre played the 2nd and 3rd movements of Mozart's Concerto in C Major, K. 467.

On December 3rd of the 2022-2023 season Will Gannon (17) received 2nd Place in the annual St. Paul Piano Teachers Concerto Competition (SPPTA). It is a significant and important regional event in which the winner is given the opportunity of performing with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra.

As a result of reaching the finals of the Rising Stars Concerto Competition of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, our Deling Chen, 15, will have the opportunity to perform with the symphony in a subscription concert! This will be Deling's first performance with orchestra. She will be playing the 1st movement of Beethoven's Concerto No. 1 in C Major Opus 15.

On November 5th, our sensational Will Gannon was awarded First Place for the 2nd year in a row in the Senior Category (15-18) State Division of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Young Artists Competition! This is quite a feat. Will performed a 30 -minute program of great historical sweep and complexity.

PianoTexas International Festival & Academy, founded and directed by the great Hungarian pianist, Tamas Ungar, just celebrated its 41st anniversary. Under his visionary leadership, PianoTexas - hosted by Texas Christian University (TCU) School of Music in Fort Worth - has become one of the foremost summer piano festivals in the world today.

As you may remember from an earlier posting, Kate Hibbs (9-years-old) was the Winner, First Prize of the Little Mozart's Crescendo International Competition 2022 (virtual) . Here she is performing in Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in the winners' concert in May.

Yesterday, our own Ariella Kim, 12 years-of-age, appeared for the very first time in a concerto with orchestra. Invited by the Golden Valley Orchestra, Ariella performed the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto in B-flat Major, K. 595. The concert was held at Golden Valley Lutheran Church.

Katherine Asia Hibbs (Kate) is 9 years old and the youngest member of our Premier Class. She has received terrific reviews in 3 separate international virtual auditions this spring. Kate was the Winner, First Prize, ofLittle Mozart’s Crescendo International Competition, 2022 (virtual).

This past Saturday, Will Gannon performed in the live Semi-Finals of the Rising Stars Concerto Competition of the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra.

Each year, the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) presents its National Young Artist Competition. It is one of the toughest and most demanding of such events in the country. It comprises 4 categories representing 4 age groups: Juniors (11-14); Seniors (15-18); as well as undergraduate and graduate categories.

As many of you know, Andre Peck (11) and Will Gannon (15) were 2 of just 24 students, selected by an international panel, to attend Piano Texas. Held at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, The Piano Texas International Festival & Academy is one of the most prestigious such academies/festivals in the world. Andre and Will were in the 18 and under age category. They each offered 40 minutes of literature.

As many of you know from my past writings, our seventeen year old Nita Qiu has been enrolled for the past three years in the Chopin Foundation of the United States Scholarship Program. It is a very demanding and comprehensive four year program to help build one's Chopin repertoire in preparation for the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw.

After a grueling five week period of offering solo, chamber, and concerto literature, our beloved Kenny Broberg was just declared the WINNER of the American Pianists Association (APA) Competition!!