Celebrating My Students’ Success at the CAPMT Concerto Competition!

After the competition

Last Sunday was a special and memorable day for our piano studio! Two of my students, Wesley Yang and Dheeya Khilnani, participated in the CAPMT Southern Branch Concerto Competition, part of a series of competitions organized by the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT), an affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

I am incredibly proud of both students for their outstanding performances and for having the courage to compete alongside some of the most talented and experienced young pianists in San Diego.

Wesley performed Concertino in A Minor, by Polunin while Dheeya resented Bach’s Concerto in F Minor. What makes their achievement particularly meaningful is that both students have been studying piano for only three years!

The concerto is one of the most demanding genres in classical music. It requires not only technical mastery and musical maturity but also the ability to collaborate with an orchestra, understand complex musical structures, and maintain confidence on stage. Throughout the entire summer, Wesley and Dheeya worked tirelessly to prepare their repertoire. Together, we focused on every aspect of their performances—from technical precision and stylistic understanding to musical expression and artistic interpretation. Their dedication, discipline, and determination were truly inspiring.

I also had the pleasure of performing alongside both students, playing the orchestral accompaniment arranged for a second piano, a common practice in piano concerto performances. Sharing the stage with my students is always a tremendous honor, and these performances were undoubtedly among the highlights of my teaching year.

Just a month earlier, both students had presented their concertos at the Piano Duet Festival. The CAPMT competition gave them another valuable opportunity to perform their repertoire, gain experience, and demonstrate how much they had grown as musicians. I am delighted to announce that both Wesley and Dia received Third Prize in their respective competition categories! This is a remarkable accomplishment, especially considering their relatively short musical journey and the high level of competition. Of course, awards are only one part of the experience. What matters most is the progress they have made, the confidence they have developed, and the valuable lessons they will carry into their future musical endeavors.

None of this would have been possible without the tremendous support of their parents. Thank you for your encouragement, trust, patience, and commitment throughout this journey. And thank you to everyone who helped make this wonderful experience possible!

Next Stop: Our Studio Concert on November 21st! With this exciting chapter behind us, we are already looking forward to our next musical event—our upcoming Studio Concert on November 21st at the Steinway Gallery in Miramar. I cannot wait to hear all my talented students share their music and celebrate another season of learning, growth, and artistic discovery.

Congratulations once again, Wesley and Dheeya! I am so proud of you both. Keep up the wonderful work—this is only the beginning of your musical journey!