Piano is getting a lot more exciting and a lot busier! I just recently competed in the American Fork Symphony auditions and it went really well. I was not chosen to perform with them, but I felt like I played my best. This next Friday I will be competing in UMTA (Utah Music Teachers Association). It is a concerto competition so I will be playing Concerto in F by Gershwin. I am really excited! Yesterday, I got four hours of practicing. Even though it was hard to get that many hours I felt accomplished and felt really good when I was done. It is a lot of work but the rewards are amazing!!

After taking about two months off of piano I am ready to jump back in! The reason why I took the past two months off is because I was preparing for the ACT. Now that the ACT is done and it is the start of the new year I am ready to push hard and do as much piano as I can. I am planning on competing in several competitions this year and I am very excited! It should be a great year!

Just a few days ago I had my MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) competition. There were about 14 people in my division so the competition was a lot tougher. I played Variations Serieuses by Mendelssohn, Aria Variata by Bach, and Fireworks by Debussy. I didn't place at all but I felt like I played my best. To me that is all that matters is that I do my best. I also had no expectations that I would win so I was able to still be happy when I found out my friend won which felt really good. I know that someday I will have my time to shine so in the meantime I am just plugging away and doing my best.

Well, at the end of August I competed in the Utah Valley Symphony auditions. I played well enough to make it to the finals but I was not chosen to perform with the symphony. It was still neat to make it to the finals. Over the past month I have been working really hard to get up my songs for MTNA. It is in two weeks and I am almost ready. I am playing my Bach, Mendelssohn, and Debussy pieces. Since I am in the senior division I have to perform 25 minutes worth of music. It is hard but I enjoy the challenge. I am going to try to be as ready as possible for MTNA and hopefully it will go well!

Well, a few weeks ago I found out that I wasn't chosen to compete in the final auditions to play in the Salute to Youth concert with the Utah Symphony. That is okay though. I am plugging forward and gearing up for the Utah Valley Symphony auditions and MTNA. The UVS auditions are next weekend and I am going to use the Gershwin Concerto. I have only competed in it once a few years ago but I made the finals so I am hoping that it will go well this year. MTNA is in October so I am starting to work hard on my pieces. I have a feeling it is going to be a good year!

This next week I am going to the Utah State Piano Clinic. It will be my third year going and I am very excited! I get to perform Concerto in F by Gershwin in the Cool Classics Rising Stars Concert. It is a very neat opportunity that I have been able to participate in for three years now. During piano camp, we have classes that we take each day. The classes are master classes, theory, keyboard skills, piano literature, lecture classes, etc. It is amazing how much they pack into you in one week! I can't wait to go! I am able to improve my piano knowledge and skills and I get to have a great time with friends!

I just did my recording this past Thursday to send in to the Utah Symphony! I went up to Logan and recorded in my teacher's office. The recording process went really well. I didn't feel very nervous which helped me to play a lot better. I was able to get the recording that I wanted on the second try. Now all I have to do is send it in! I can't wait!