MTAC Certificate of Merit (TM)

Congratulations to everyone who participated and tested in the Certificate of Merit (TM). I am very happy to announce, that everyone from our Studio, passed their exams. All the hard work, extra theory hours and additional practice, paid off.

Please, congratulate:

Bret Paddock, Level 8 Branch Honors

Theresa Pailma, Level 6 Branch Honors

Corrina Conway, Level 6 Branch Honors

Justin Markowitz, Level 7 and Graduating Senior and Branch Honors

Ranen Unger Hicks, Level 1

Mitchell Johnson,Level 6 Branch Honors

Shalini Nair,Level 8 Branch Honors

Alex Few,Level Adv Branch Honors

Cindy Liang Path B, Level 6

Chloe Lovato, Level 4

Cynthia Nguyen Phan,Level 6, Convention

Kathleen Nguyen Phan,Level 2

Sierra Rupnow,Level 4

Andrew Vu, Level 5,Branch Honors

Nessa Vu, Level 2

Victoria Vu, Level 3

Jothy Yogarajah,Level 6 Branch Honors

Antonio Pontarelli, Level 8 Branch Honors

Sai Sivapalan,Level 9 Branch Honors

Kelly Rausch, Path B Level Prep

Maxine Imura, Level 6, Branch Honors

Shanti Ryle, Level Adv Branch Honors

Sharmini Premananthan, Level 7 Branch Honors

Niranjana Premananthan, Level 1

Vinayak Pillai, Level 6

Vishakh Pillai, Level 3

Song Nguyen, Level 2

Jessica Behar, Level 2

Kenna Behar, Path B Level Prep

Brittany Durgiah, Level 3

Cambria Justine Lauritsen, Level 4

Junior Bach Festival

We are happy to announce that Alex Few was declared a winner, performing the a minor Prelude and Fuge WTC II BWV 889. Sharmini Premananthan and Corrina Conway received Honorable Mentions.

Lake Elsinore Rotary Music Competition

Bret Paddock decided to enter the Lake Elsinore Rotary Music Competition in the last minute with the 1st movement of the Beethoven Sonata Op 31 No 2 and the Scott Joplin Maple Leaf Rag. He is certainly happy that he did, winning 1st place in the piano category ($250.00), and 2nd in the instrumental category ($150.00). Congratulations Bret, way to go. Eva

Inland Empire Piano Festival

February 8th came and went in a glance. Our Studio was represented with Ranen Unger-Hicks, Category 1A and first place; Sharmini Premananthan, Category III-B and 3rd place; Alex Few Category IV-B and Honorable Mention and Corrina Conway, Category V-A and Honorable Mention.
Cogratulations to all performers and participants. Your performances were well received and appreciated.

Justin Markowitz pianist, composer

“Eva Martin’s teachings have helped me a lot from the time I first started taking lessons with her five years ago. She has helped me get as far as I am today. I learned so much about the history of the piano, how to do theory correctly, how to play scales correctly, how to play arpeggios correctly, and even how to memorize songs. The reason I say “correctly” when referring to scales, arpeggios, and theory is because there are wrong ways in which to do and play them. Eva has coached me from playing scales and arpeggios very fast and sloppy to playing scales at a steady pace and immaculate. Eva has taught me that the basics are the most important thing when it comes to playing piano. When learning how to memorize a song, Eva guided me to practice one section at a time. Before I knew it, I was memorizing ten songs in a very short time.
During a class one day, Eva taught me about the history behind the piano and its players. (Such as Bach, Beethoven, and other famous composers)"... "The next week I decided I would write a song in b minor. To make it sound like it was written a long time ago, I decided to make it a waltz. This actually helped inspire me to write the song “Life Cycle”. Eva is the best teacher I have had because she pushes me to do even more than I thought I could do and she devotes so much time to her students each day.” - Justin Markowitz

Justins' proud dad is sharing these links with us:
Hi All,
I wanted to follow up with you on Justin's performance...a smash hit if I do say so myself. The kid's a born performer. If you'd like to see some pix feel free to go to:
http://www.pbase.com/alanm/justins_world_of_wonders
You can also go to YouTube to view and listen to both songs: (THANKS to brother Alan!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FH249zhv5w&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE4oeJ1RmmA Here's to many more performances from Justin...bravo! Cheers,Todd

As always, I wish Justin the very best and the greatest time exploring music and his fabulous gift and the sincerest thank you to his parents for getting him this far. Eva

Justin Markowitz pianist, composer in recital Dec 28, 2008

Happy Holiday Season to everyone:

I am happy to announce Justin Markowitz, composer, pianist in recital. Justin's dad sent me the announcement of this performance. Good luck to you and enjoy every note you play!!! Merry Christmas. Eva

Hi All,

I’d like to alert all of you regarding Justin’s Premiere performance this Sunday, December 28th, at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater with the California Chamber Orchestra. Justin was asked to perform/orchestrate one of his original compositions, World of Wonders, for this “Festive Music of the Season” show. How many 17 year olds can say they composed and performed one of their pieces with an orchestra??? And if that’s not exciting enough, Justin will return later in the show for an encore solo piano performance of another original composition entitled, Life Cycle.

I understand Temecula is out of reach for most of you; however it would be fantastic if you could attend.

I’d like to wish all of you a wonderful Holiday Season and New Year filled with love, laughter and great music! Cheers,
Todd Markowitz (proud dad)


FESTIVE MUSIC OF THE SEASON
Performance Date: 12/28/2008, 2:30 pm
Golden Valley Music Society presents the California Chamber String Quintet, an accomplished group of outstanding professional musicians drawn from throughout Southern California, under the skillful baton of Artistic Director Warren Gref.The program will feature Holiday music from around the world, including Greensleeves, Pizzicato Polka, Corelli’s Concerto Grosso, Auld Lang Syne and more.Featured artists include soprano Jaclyn Johnson and pianist Justin Markowitz.Performance: Sunday, December 28, 2008 at 2:30pmTickets: $25 Adults$20 Seniors$12.50 students over 12$2.50 child 12 and under accompanied by an adult


MUSIC OF THE SEASON
December 28, 2008
Old Town Temecula Theater42051 Main St.Temecula, CA 92590
Purchase tickets online
Performance time is 2:30 p.m.
The California Chamber Orchestra

Warren Gref, the Society’s artistic director and conductor of the California Chamber Orchestra, has played French horn for many years with the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Opera and San Diego Chamber Orchestras as well as with a number of other Southern California ensembles. He also conducts and teaches.

A resident of the Golden Valley, Mr. Gref has a long list of musical achievements. He won a GRAMMY in 2005 as part of a chamber music recording group. He has performed under the batons of such internationally acclaimed conductors and composers as Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Williams and Zubin Mehta. David Zinman, Murry Sidlin, Michael Stern, Christopher Seaman and Edo de Waart have been his conducting mentors.
Along with producing quality music, both as a player and a conductor, he puts priority on making fine music accessible to a wide audience and to bring live music to school-age children. He is involved in an array of educational offerings, bringing more than a dozen assemblies to valley schools and coaching local young musicians.

The Jakarta Post - The Journal of Indonesia Today

The Jakarta Post - The Journal of Indonesia Today: "'I want my recitals to be different, because my point of piano playing is basically speaking a language on piano and sharing my story on piano. I want people to understand the story. It is a kind of magic circulating between the audience and me. We are one together, the piano, audience and I. It is definitely not a traditional piano recital with a black suit.'
For his concert in Jakarta this year, (Adam) Gyorgy plans to play some new improvisations, followed by virtuoso pieces that are almost acrobatic classical repertoires. This, he believes, will attract a younger crowd."

Adam Gyorgy is an extraordinary pianist, the choice of repertoire is unusual: a Liszt Paraphrase and improvisations amongst others. I wish, I could attend. Good luck, as always.