Welcome Mary Simons!

Meet my newest student: 

Mary Simons is 16 years old and has taken piano since she was 8. She loved piano from the very beginning and hopes to attend college, majoring in piano performance. She attends Juab High School and often helps to accompany the school's concert choir in addition to being a member of the choir. She is on track to graduate from JHS in 2017 with an Associate of Arts degree from Snow College. She currently has 2 piano students, but will have 8 when school starts. Along with piano and music, Mary loves school, photography, hiking, British television, going on adventures with her friends, a good political debate, and spending time with her family.  

Faith to perform in Carnegie Hall!

We were just notified that Faith won Second Place in the American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition which she entered via youTube. As a result, she will perform in a Winners' Concert in Carnegie Hall on July 3rd, 2015! We are so excited to go to New York and watch a pianist's dream come true.

Sr. Solo Festival Outstanding Performer

Congratulations ANIKA BAKER for being selected as one of the top 15% in her division (7th-9th grade--she is in 7th grade) of the recent Encore Sr. Solo Festival. She performed beautifully in the Honors Recital and received a ribbon and $30 cash.

Recital February 13th, 2015

Back row, left to right: Parker Thorson, Makayla Harris, Ava Baker, Anika Baker, Sadi Kelley, Amanda Nixon
Middle row, left to right: Lauren Crawford, Andrew Pitcher, Annika Pitcher, Clark Baker
Front row, left to right: Angel Nixon, Brady Mark, Noah Pierce
(Missing: Sophi Deucher)

Jr. Solo Festival Outstanding Performers

CONGRATULATIONS Annika Pitcher and Andrew Pitcher who were selected as Outstanding Performers in the recent Encore Jr. Solo Festival! They performed in the Honors Recital and received a ribbon and $20 cash. Also, congratulations to my 6-year-old daughter, Angel, for being selected as a top performer as well. She studies with Dr. Irene Peery-Fox. I practice with her 45-minutes to an hour daily and sit in on every weekly lesson.

Faith Nixon wins again!

My daughter, Faith, recently won two orchestra auditions. In the Oquirrh Mountain Symphony Orchestra Elementary Division, she took 1st place and will perform with the symphony on May 2nd. She also auditioned in the Aspiring Musicians Competition and was selected to perform with the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra on April 20th. I am so incredibly proud of her dedication and hard work. One of the greatest things about Faith is that she is well-rounded: a High Honor Roll student at Canyon View Jr. High, a competitive soccer player, guitarist, a skilled dancer and gymnast, and a social butterfly. She is very kind to everyone and helps me manage a busy household as she often takes care of her three (soon-to-be four) younger siblings for me. She is a student of Dr. Irene Peery-Fox' who was my teacher growing up. Faith is 12-years-old and does most of her practicing on her own, but, as you can imagine, I am always listening and helping when she needs it. Last October, Faith soloed with the Utah Valley Symphony. Here is the link to her performance on youTube: http://youtu.be/_NWQQFvdzdE

Ensemble Recital

The studio had a recital November 4th, 2015 full of duets and trios and it was AWESOME! One of my favorite things about this recital is each year my sister and I prepare a duet for the students to enjoy. We used to play duets together when we were young and so it brings back great memories.

Here are some glimpses into that evening:

Marching Moon Men-----------------------------------------Jane Smisor Bastien

Little Indian Princess----------------------------------------Jane Smisor Bastien

Xana and Cooper Thorson

The trio rehearsing with Makayla's mom Erika

America, the Beautiful--------------------------Samuel Ward, arr. Carol Matz

Happy Ending from Festival Suite---------------------------Robert D. Vandall

Annika and Andrew Pitcher

Three to Get Ready---------------------------------------------Robert D. Vandall

Stars and Stripes Forever “March”---------------------------John Philip Sousa

Makayla Harris, Ava Baker, and Parker Thorson

Sleeping Beauty Waltz---------------------------------------------arr. Carol Matz

Russian Wedding Dance------------------------------------------arr. Carol Matz

Sadi Kelley and Lauren Crawford

 Home on the Range---------------------American Folk Song, arr. Carol Matz

Round ‘n’ Round--------------------------------------------Lynn Freeman Olson

Brock and Clark Baker

(How the twins really feel about each other.)

Jubilation!---------------------------------------------------------Robert D. Vandall

Jessica Deucher and Amanda Nixon

Cozy Nights------------------Dennis Alexander

The Grand Finale--------------Catherine Rollin

Ava and Anika Baker

r

Xana Thorson

Xana Thorson is one of my newer students. She is a joy to teach!

From her mom: Xana loves to ride her bike, play with friends, soccer, and, of course, piano. She is working hard to be able to get a challenge song. She is a very helpful sister and plays well with her brothers. Often times we find her cleaning the entire house without anyone asking her too. 
She has recently found a new love, reading.  

Faith Nixon plays Fantasie Impromptu

Check out my 12-year-old daughter on youTube as she plays Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmHg0svoqHQ