Category: Music

Voice Teaching Artist Jennifer Keller has a vibrant private lesson studio at the Academy. As we near our half way point in our Spring Semester, we are happy to highlight several recent achievements from her students (including Tanvi Breinig – pictured above) that she shared with us.

 

“I’m so proud of all of my students,” gleamed Ms. Keller. “I especially want to recognize the following students for their recent accomplishments.”

 

 

 

• Madison Perry – District and State Honors Choirs, cast as “Jo” in school production of Little Women
• Tanvi Breinig – District Choir, participated in Washington National Opera Young Associates program, participating in rehearsal observations of the Washington National Opera
• Ben Carroll – Cast as “Cinderella’s Prince” in school production of Into the Woods, Jr
• Abba Kodiaga – District and State Honors Choirs, cast as “Sharpei” in school production of High School Musical
• Mariane Ball (former student) – Auditioned for a college vocal music program
• Caleigh Pierce (former student) – Auditioned for a college vocal music program

 

 

Congratulations to all of you for your hard work and dedication!

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS AT THE ACADEMY

 

 

 

One of the Academy’s wonderful Vocal Teaching Artists, Seon Gyu Park, was recently awarded the Peterson Endowment in Vocal Arts scholarship. Seon is pursuing her Doctorate at Mason’s School of Music, and this prestigious award will help her complete her degree. We are very proud to have her as a member of our Academy music faculty.

“It is a great honor for me to attend George Mason University’s School of Music and receive the Peterson Endowment in Vocal Arts to continue my education and advanced training in Vocal Performance,” said Ms. Park. “I am honored to study Voice with renowned mezzo-soprano and University Professor Patricia Miller and the world class faculty here in the School of Music at Mason.”

The Peterson Family Scholarship Endowment in the Vocal Arts offers substantial support for outstanding undergraduate or graduate vocal students to pursue a degree in Vocal Performance at George Mason University and study with outstanding internationally recognized artist faculty.

To read more, see the article on the Mason School of Music website.

 

SEE SEON GYU PARK’S BIO

 

With the Academy’s 2nd Annual Spring Music Competition well under way (results will be announced soon!), it is the perfect time to reflect upon the benefits of participating in a competition. One of the Academy’s main goals is to provide students with the opportunity to get valuable musicianship feedback from Mason School of Music faculty. A chance to perform in a special Honors Recital in Mason’s Harris Theatre is another. Teaching Artist Faith Zuniga, who proposed the idea to the Academy, shares her unique insights on this topic.

“Why competitions?” Ms. Zunia poses the question. “I believe it is important for music students to get involved in as many public performances as possible, from studio classes and outreach performances (such as at retirement homes), to local, national, and international competitions. Benefits include the jump in progress that always comes with practicing a lot and exposure to what dedicated fellow student musicians are doing. Competitions are a great measurement of progress and also an inspiration to always perform better and better. I am especially attracted to the ‘multiple-winner’ competition model, which is why I proposed the idea to the Academy. By choosing multiple ‘winners'(i.e. the highest scoring auditionees), the competition encourages many to participate, provides winners the opportunity to perform onstage at the beautiful formal setting of Harris Theatre, and also provides ALL entrants with great feedback from qualified judges to aid continued growth.”

 

 

“In addition to the MCAA Music Competition, there are many competitions and events available to students in this area,” continues Ms. Zuniga. “Northern Virginia has deservedly been called the ‘powerhouse of piano teachers’, and I am always inspired by the extraordinarily high level of my colleagues’ teaching – for example, at the recent Robert & Frances Allen Competition that I was honored to judge again this past January. I encourage my students to be very involved in area events through the NVMTA (Northern Virginia Music Teachers’ Association). I highly recommend that all area music teachers join this great organization! Along with piano, there are events for every instrument and voice. My students have already benefited from performing at the Spring Festival, Sonata Festival, General Recitals, Judged Recitals, and Achievement Awards Competitions, and there is so much more that NVMTA has to offer, including the Bach-Baroque Festival, the Concerto Festival, and the Concerto Competition!”

 

 

“Apart from the NVMTA, the opportunities are endless,” states Ms. Zuniga. “Just some of the available area events include the Robert & Frances Allen Competition, the IYAPC Competition, the Steinway Washington Piano Competition, the Bland Competitions, and the Library Concerts at the Alden auditions. Outside of the area, my own students love to participate in the American Protégé International Competitions and have performed frequently at the winners’ recitals at Carnegie Hall in NYC! Recent winners of the American Protégé Competitions from my studio include Daniel Neathery, Rachel Neathery, Keira Konson, and Ava Harhay [in order of appearance above] . I am very proud of them and their hard work!”

 

Thanks you Faith for this valuable information. If you are interested in learning more about joining a competition, talk to your music teacher!

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ACADEMY’S SPRING MUSIC COMPETITION

 

Masha Feygelson is a member of our Piano faculty at the Academy, with many adoring students in her studio. You may be surprised to know that she is also a jazz singer, with a Valentine’s Day themed performance coming up on Saturday, February 10th. Learn more about this talented musician in her interview with our Faculty Coordinator Claire Allen.

 

CAllen: What’s your favorite part about teaching for the Academy?

MFeygelson: What begins as a simple inquiry with our office about piano lessons, grows into such an enriching learning process and human connection. I’ve met and worked with so many lovely people…it’s really a gift to get to know our community through the unique lens of being a music teacher.

 

 

CAllen: How did you first fall in love with music?

MFeygelson: I don’t think there was necessarily an epiphany; being in love with music has been a state of being since earliest childhood. My mother realized this and took me to music classes very early on. Even as a three year old, I walked around singing endlessly. Not much has changed!

 

CAllen: Tell us about a teaching experience you had that was especially memorable.

MFeygelson: So, so many…it’s impossible to choose. As any teacher will tell you, every day with children is full of hilarious comments and questions and discoveries…and there are a thousand little triumphs along the way.

 

 

CAllen: What are some unique things you do when you teach?

MFeygelson: There’s certainly nothing new under the sun, but one thing I always do is encourage my students to sing! With young beginners, we might make up lyrics to accompany their pieces or imagine scenes and stories that could be set to the music. It is extremely helpful for pianists of all ages and levels to sing note names while practicing – vocalizing musical lines helps in building beautiful phrases and aids memorization.

 

CAllen: Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them. If not, tell us the type of pet you would like to have.

MFeygelson: My closest brush with being a pet owner was about a month ago, when a field mouse was loose in my apartment for a few days, after I tried to domesticate her…I was sad to see her go, but honestly, it probably wouldn’t have worked out. The truth is, I adore animals and would gladly house everyone from rats to cats to lizards – once I live somewhere that can comfortably house all of us. #TeamCat #TeamDog #TeamAnimal

 

 

CAllen: What else would you like our community to know about you?

MFeygelson: Singing is my other musical passion – mostly jazz and pop. After finishing grad school last spring, I can finally dedicate more time to vocal studies and performances. I’m very excited for my first full solo concert on February 10th!
SEE FEBRUARY 10TH PERFORMANCE FLIER

 

SEE MASHA’S BIO

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