Pax Organum

Music – more specifically, the piano – first became a part of my life when I was three years old. My beloved preschool music teacher, faithfully known as Mr. B, taught us preschoolers about composers. He used to come up with silly lyrics to famous classical pieces. (For example, what the world knew as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, I knew as “I WANNA EAT.”). Mr. B had keyboards set around the perimeter of his classroom, and we all used to get fifteen minutes at the end of each music class to play on the keyboards. This was my favorite time of the day – I loved creating with my own little melodies and eagerly showing my friends around me what I came up with. I guess Mr. B took notice, because he became my first piano teacher shortly thereafter.

After a few weeks of thirty minute lessons, he told me that he wanted me to perform in a little music showcase he was going to be hosting in his classroom to prospective parents. I nervously agreed, and he picked “Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star” as my piece.

I don’t remember much from this performance, but that was the beginning of an incredible journey into music.

When I was five, I switched schools, and I started getting piano lessons under Ms. Min Soo Kay, who very quickly became a second mother to me. She, without a doubt, made me into the performer that I am today. At first, I wasn’t the best practicer, but Ms. Min Soo pushed me harder than any of her other students, and in time I blossomed. When I was nine, I added on the flute, and over the years became more involved in the music programs at my elementary and high schools.

After years of performing in small concerts for parents, theory tests through the local conservatory, and NYSSMA examinations, Ms. Min Soo decided it was time for me to do something even bigger. In the spring of my junior year, Ms. Min Soo told me that she wanted me to perform in my own solo piano showcase for my graduation. I eagerly agreed – I was excited to step up to the challenge and perform some of my favorite pieces in front of my family and friends.

It was a long and difficult year of practicing and perfecting the pieces, and I pushed myself harder than I ever had before. I wanted to make my friends, my family, and especially Ms. Min Soo proud of me. I wanted to do this for her, since she has been my biggest supporter since the first day I stepped into her house for my first piano lesson with her.

The concert was indescribable – I fed off of the excited vibe of the audience, comprised of my closest friends and family. I played a wide variety of pieces from the baroque, romantic, and contemporary genres – from Chopin to Rachmaninoff to Gershwin. My favorite piece, however, was my penultimate piece – the 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je maman” by Mozart. The thema of this piece is to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.

That was the moment I came full circle . From my first “public” concert performing in front of perspective parents in a small preschool classroom, to performing in my own solo recital at the Westchester Conservatory in front of over one hundred people, I still find it quite amusing how I played the same piece…just one was a little more complicated than the other.

Music was – and still is – my everything. I am so grateful to my music teachers along the way who pushed me into becoming the best performer I could be.

I hope you enjoy my music below!

Solo Piano Recital – Part 1 & 2