Ashley Ahn won 1st place in the Anna Magdalena Bach category of the 2010 Bach Competition, sponsored by the Dekalb Music Teachers Association

Dr. Elton with former students, Sunhei  Min, Kyung Hwa Han and Clera Ryu, now all award winning piano students at  UGA

Students in Recital

2009

 

 Yash Kadadi won 2nd place in the Anna Magdalena category of Bach Competition, 2010

 

 

 

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

 Fall 2010

 Bach Festival and Piano Competition:

Ashley Ahn  won 1st Place in the Anna Magdalena Bach Category and performed at the Winner's Recital. 

Yash Kadadi won 2nd place in the Anna Magdalena Bach Category and performed at the Winner's Recital.

Fall 2009

 Romantic Festival Piano Competition sponsored by Raisa Parmentier and the Atlanta Music Teachers Associtaion.  1st place Recital Winners:  Laura Street and Mischelle Zhang. 

 

 2008 - 2009

 

Mischelle Park, a high school senior auditioned at UGA, Northwestern University and Emory University as piano major.  She won a music scholarship to UGA.

 

Students at the University of West GA

Freshman Student Yaeju Bin, was selected to perform for Honors Recital and University Convocation Ceremony

Student Brittany Scott, received 3rd place in the Big Night Talent Contest

Student Harold Walbert was selected as a winner in concerto competition

Students Brittany Scott and Thomas Vaden passed their hearing for their Recitals, receiving high praise from faculty.

 

MTNA Masterclass

5th grade student Kevin Kwon performed at the MTNA National Conference Master Class with Dennis Alexander.

 

Atlanta Music Teachers Association

Outstanding Performers: Mischelle Park, Kevin Kwon, Sarah Paik

 

Bach Competition sponsored by Dekalb Music Teachers Association

Recital Winner First Place, Laura Street, 5th grade, performed on the Winners Recital.

Outstanding Performer Awards: Mischell Park, Kevin Kwon, Yash Kadadi, and Anqing Xiongzou

 

Georgia Music Teachers Association:

Kevin Won received Conference Recitalist, Alternate.

 Sarah Paik received Honorable Mention.

 

The National Guild of Piano Teachers:

Laura Street earned the Sonatina Medal, receiving the highest possible score.

The following students all received a Superior rating: Kevin Kwon, Julia Bond, Anqing Xiong, Dylan Diamond, Catherine Gallori, Arianna Fox, Russell Emerine and Yash Kadadi.

 

National Federation of Music Clubs

The following students received Superior ratings: Laura Street, Anquing Xiong, Russell Emerine, Yash Kadadi, Catherine Gallori

 

  2007-200

Georgia Music Teachers Association State Spring Auditions:

Two Conference Recitalist, 1st Alternates – Kelly Ryu and Laura Street

Outstanding Performer – April Kim, Isaac Hram

Award of Excellence – Isrra Kang, Mischelle Park

Honorable Mention – Sarah Paik

 

GA Music Educators Association ALL-STATE PIANO SOLO Competition:

Recital Winners: Mischelle Park and Kelly Ryu performed at the State Conference in Savannah.

Master Class Winner: April Kim

 

National Federation of Music ClubsAll students who participated received the Superior ratings:

Yash Kadadi, Russell Emerine, Anqing Xiongzou, Julia Bond, Catherine Gallori, Jake Forte, Laura Street, Isaac Hram.

 

Atlanta Music Teachers Association Music Fest

The following students received the Superior rating: Yash Kadadi, Mischelle Park, Sarah Paik, April Kim, Arianna Fox, Cadell Martin, Laura Street, Kevin Kwon. Kelly Ryu. Jenny Han received the Award of Excellence

 

National Guild of Piano Teachers

The following students performed 15 pieces and received the Superior rating: Yash Kadadi, Jake Forte, and Russell Emerine.

The following students performed 10 pieces and received the Superior rating:  Julia Bond, Catherine Gallori, Arianna Fox, Laura Street, Isaac Hram and Anqing Xiongzou.  Dylan Diamond performed 7 pieces and received the Superior rating.

 

Atlanta Music Teachers Association Local Spring Auditions.

The following students received the Outstanding Performer rating and qualified for the state auditions: Laura Street, Kelly Ryu, Isaac Hram, Sarah Paik, Isrra Kang, Jenny Han, Mischelle Park, and  April Kim. Kevin Kwon received the Award of Excellence.

 

Talent Show:  Kevin Kwon won 2nd place in the Kiwanis Club Talent Show.

 

Music Scholarship: April Kim, graduating Senior, was offered a 4-year Music Scholarship by the Department of Music at UGA. She also auditioned and was accepted at GSU and UWG.

 

Music Scholarship: Mischelle Park won a $3,000 scholarship to the National High School Piano Institute held at Southwestern in Chicago for summer study.

 

 

2006-2007

Atlanta Music Club Scholarship Winner

Kyung Hwa Han won 1st Place in the High School Piano Division, a $3,000 Scholarship.

 

Bach Competition  October 2006 ( From among 238 Contestants)

5 Recital Winners:  Left to right - Sarah Paik, Mischelle Park, (Dr. Elton), Nathan Hipsman, in front -Laura Street, and April Kim (not in picture).  Each winner received a wonderful trophy and performed on the Winner's Recital the following day.

 

4 Outstanding Performers: Isaac Hram, Brian Tung, Isrra Kang, Kyung Hwa Han

Award of Excellence: Jenny Han

 Honorable Mention: Arianna Fox

 

 Music Scholarship:  Kyung Hwa Han won a 4-year music scholarship to UGA. She entered UGA as a piano major in Fall of 2007.  She was also offered scholarships to Indiana University and Florida State University.

 

GMEA All-State Piano Solo Competition:

         Recital Winners: Sarah Paik, Kyung Hwa Han

         Masterclass Winner:  April Kim

         Masterclass Alternate Winners: Isrra Kang and Lauren Fleck

         Honorable Mention: Mischelle Park

 

Music-Fest sponsored by Atlanta Music Teachers Association

All participants received a Superior Rating: Dylan Diamond, Julia Bond, Palmer Brown

 

Junior Piano Festival sponsored by the GA Federation of Music Clubs:

Superior Rating: Catherine Gallori, Arianna Fox, Julia Bond, Kelly Ryu,

Superior+: Laura Street

 

Piano Guild Audititons sponsored by the Irl Allison National Guild of Piano Teachers. These students performed 10 pieces and received the following ratings:

Superior Plus or the 'Top Talent Circle Rating": Laura Street

Superior: Arianna Fox, Julia Bond, Dylan Diamond

 

Music Teachers National Association High School Piano Competition

           Kyung Hwa Han: Honorable Mention

 

Kiwanis Club of Fayette County Talent Show

           Kevin Kwon won First Place in the Elem Division

 

Atlanta Music Teachers Association Local Auditions:  The following students qualified for the state auditions.

          Outstanding Performer:  Issac Hram, Kelly Ryu, Sarah Paik, Isrra Kang, Lauren Fleck. Jenny Han, Mischelle Park,

          Nathan Hipsman, April and Kyung Hwa Han.

 

Governor's Honors Program: Mischelle Park

 

GMTA State Auditions:

Senior Cash Award, Kyung Hwa Han

Conference Recitalist, Nathan Hipsman, 11th Grade

Conference Recitalist, 2nd Alternate April Kim, 11th Grade

Outstanding Performer, Kelly Ryu,5th grade

Award of Excellence, Lauren Fleck. 8th grade

Award of Excellence, Isaac Hram, 5th grade

Honorable Mention Jenny Han, 9th grade

There are currently 20 local chapters that participate in the GA Music Teachers Association State Auditions. Thus, it is quite an honor for students to make it to the state level auditions, and even more so to received the highest ratings.

 

 2005-2006

Atlanta Music Teachers Association MUSIC FEST

          All of the following students received the highest rating of SUPERIOR:  Julia Bond, Palmer Brown, Herrine Ro, Dylan Diamond, Brian Tung, David Eun,(Superior+), Sarah Paik, Lauren Fleck, Laura Kim, Isrra Kang, Mischelle Park, Nathan Hipsman, April Kim, Kyung Hwa Han, Clera Ryu

 

GA Music Educators Association ALL-STATE PIANO SOLO Competition

The following 7students were RECITAL WINNERS and performed at the State Conference in Savannah:  Sarah Paik, Lauren Fleck, Isrra Kang, Phoebe Ling, Mischelle Park, April Kim, Kyung Hwa Han.  Clera Ryu was a MASTER CLASS winner.

 

Atlanta Music Teachers Association Local Spring Auditions.

Outstanding Performers: Jenny Han, Brian Tung, Sarah Paik, Isrra Kang, Mischelle Park, Phoebe Ling, Lauren Fleck, April Kim, Kyung Hwa Han, and Clera Ryu

Award of Excellence: David Eun and Herrine Ro received the

 

Georgia Music Teachers Association State Spring Auditions.

Conference Recitalist, April Kim

Master Class Winner, Nathan Hipsman

Outstanding Performer, Lauren Fleck, Kyung Hwa Han, Clera Ryu

Award of Excellence,  Sarah Paik, Isrra Kang and Mischelle Park

Honorable Mention,  Phoebe Ling and Jean Chi

 

Accepted into The UGA Music School:  Jean Chi will minor in piano.

G M T A Concerto Competition:  Kyung Hwa Han won 1st ALTERNATE

 

Music Teachers National Association/ GMTA Senior Competition: Kyung Hwa Han won HONORABLE MENTION.

 

The Central Georgia JUNIOR PIANO OYYMPICS sponsored by Georgia College and State University: Clera Ryu won 2nd Place

 

PIANO SCHOLARSHPS:  Clera Ryu won a four - year music scholarship to UGA where she will attend this Fall 2007 as a piano major.

Kyung Hwa Han won a scholarship to attend the International Institute for Young Musicians for summer study.

 

2004-2005

BACH COMPETITION sponsored by North Dekalb MTA

Recital Winners:  Nathan Hipsman, Kyung-Hwa Han, Phoebe Ling and Jean Chi. These students performed on the winner's recital.

Award of Excellence:  Herrine Ro, Sarah Paik, Lauren Fleck, Cindy Hong, April Kim, Gina Kim  Mischelle Park, Clera Ryu and Vincent Ling

 

ALL_STATE PIANO SOLO COMPETITION

Recital Winners:  Bryson Peters, Kyung-Hwa Han, Clera Ryu and Mischelle Park. These students performed at the State Conference.

GMEA Master Class Winners:  April Kim, Phoebe Ling, Vincent Ling

The Recital and Master Class Winners were invited to perform at the Georgia Music Educators Association State Conference in Savannah.  Most of them were able to get there and perform even though it was the ICE STORM week-end!!

1st Alternates:  Gina Kim and Cindy Hong; 2nd Alternate: Lauren Fleck

 

ATLANTA MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (Local Auditions)

Outstanding Performors proceeded to the state level:  David Eun, Herrine Ro, Sarah Paik, Lauren Fleck, April Kim, Nathan Hipsman, Mischelle Park, Phoebe Ling, Kyun-Hwa Han, Clera Ryu, Jean Chi, Gina Kim

 Award of Excellence:  Julianna Kim and Isrra Kang

 

GEORGIA MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION  (State Auditions)

Conference Recitalist: Kyung-Hwa Han (Will perform in Winners Recital at state conference)

Master Class ALternateWinner: Clera Ryu

Award of Excellence:  Mischelle Park, Phoebe Ling, Lauren Fleck, Gina Kim

Honorable Mention:  Sarah Paik and Jean Chi

 

Atlanta Community Orchestra Concerto Auditions:

Kyung-Hwa Han was a finalist

 

All-State Piano Concerto Auditions: Vincent Ling won Honorable Mention

 

Accompanist For School Musical: Steven Menendez and Clera Ryu

 

MUSIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD at WOODWARD ACADEMY was presented to Bryson Peters. ($1,000.00!)

 

 

ACHIEVEMENTS of SELECTED OUTSTANDING STUDENTS

Jie Hea Hong

Jie Hea began studying with me her sophomore year in high school, Fall of 1999, after having no teacher for several years.

She was in the final cut in live auditions at Juilliard to enter as a piano major.

Ist Place Winner of the Piano Concerto Competition of GMEA. She was featured as piano concerto soloist, performing the first movement of Schumann's Concerto in A Minor with the All-State Orchestra at the GMEA Conference in Savannah in 2001, Mark Cedel conducting.

Ist Place Winner of the Piano Concerto Competition sponsored by the Atlanta Music Club. She was featured as concerto soloist with the Atlanta Community Orchestra playing the first movement of Schumann's Concerto, Juan Ramirez conducting, 2001

Ist Place Winner in the Atlanta Music Club Scholarship auditions. in 2002 ($3,000)

 Masterclass Winner in 2001, GMTA.

Ist Place Winner of the 10th Grade level at the Kawaii Competition, 2000

Ist Place Winner in the High School Division, Kawaii Competition, 2000 (two separate categories)

Music Scholarship to Brevard Music School, summer 2002.

Tuition Scholarships were offered  by The Peabody School of Music, Florida State University, and UGA.

She chose to stay in Georgia and received her BM in piano performance at UGA studying with Dr. Rivkin. She has just recently completed her MM at the Peabody School of Music studying with Dr. Pasternack.

2nd Place Winner of the Guthman Piano Competition where she competed against college age students.

Governors Honors Program – she attended in summer of 2000

Jo Evans Scholarship Competition, 3rd Place Winner in 2001, and Honorable Mention in 2002.

2nd Place Winner in the High School Division of the MTNA Fall competitions, 2001

2nd Place Winner in the Young Musician's Competition , 2002 where she competed against students of all instruments., Joel Levi and Evgeny Rivkin, judging.

2nd Place Winner in the Clara Wells Piano Competition sponsored by the American Matthay Association for Pianists,  in 2002 ($1,500)

 

Gregory Pak

Greg began studying with me as a 9th grader in High School, Fall of 1999. Some of his accomplishments are as follows:

Outstanding Performer - 9th, 10th, 11th and 12 grade, GMTA State Auditions

Conference Recitalist in 11th grade. He performed at the state conference at Mercer, University, Macon, 2002.

GMEA All State Piano Solo Auditions, Recital Winner, 2002

Ist Place Winner of Atlanta Community Orchestra Concerto Auditions. He performed Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto, 1st movement, with the orchestra, Juan Ramirez conducting, 2002

Jo Evans Scholarship Competition, Honorable Mention, 2002

 Music Scholarship for 4 years to UGA where he went on to major in piano and composition

 

Kyung Hwa (Liz)  Han

Kyung Hwa studied with me from 9th grade (2003) through 12th grade.  Some of her accomplishments are as follows:

Senior Cash Award, GMTA 2007

Outstanding Performer- GMTA 4 consecutive years, 9th - 12th Grade

1st Place Winner of Atlanta Music Club Scholarship, High School Division,($3,000) in 2007

GMEA All State Recital Winner - 2005, 2006 and 2007

Recital Winner, Bach Competition 2004

Outstanding Performer, Bach Competition 2006

MTNA Fall Competitions, Honorable Mention, 2007

A Scholarship Winner to International Institute of Young Musicians held at the University of Kansas, 2006

Ist Place Winner in J.C Korean Music Competition 2007 ($500.00)

Masterclass performer at World Piano Pedagogy Conference, Atlanta GA 2006

Received MUSIC AWARD of the YEAR from the Korean American Youth Center of Atlanta, Dec. 2006

Music Scholarships offered at Florida State University, Indiana University and UGA

Kyung Hwa is currently a sophomore at UGA majoring in piano performance, studying with Dr. Richard Zimdars.

 

Clera Ryu

Clera began studying with me as a 9th grader. She went from not making it to the state auditions her first year through many 'upgrades' to winning:

Recital Winner, All-State Piano Solo, GMEA 2004

Masterclass Winner,All-State Piano Solo, GMEA 2005

Outstanding Performer  GMTA, 2005, 2006

2nd place in Junior Piano Olympics. 2006

Governors Honors Program, summer 2006

Received a 4-year music scholarship to UGA where she is currently a Junior, majoring in piano performance studying with Dr. Evgeny Rivkin. She was also offered a scholarship to Florida State University.  She recently won the Concerto Auditions at UGA and will perform Shostakovitch's Piano Concerto with the UGA Symphony.

 

April Kim

April has studied with me since she was in 4th grade. She is now a freshman at Georgia State University,  as a piano major studying with Dr. Geoffrey Haydon. Some of her accomplishments are as follows:

Conference Recitalist- GMTA, 2006

Recital Winner - GMEA, 2005

Masterclass Winner GMEA- 2003, 2004, 2007

Numerous Outstanding Performer ratings   GMTA, 4th-12 grade.

 

Eunice Park

Masterclass Winner GMTA, 2003

Outstanding Performer  GMTA,  2002, 2003, 2004

1st Alternate GMEA All-State Piano Concerto Competition,  2003

Governor's Honors Program, 2003

Accompanist for numerous musicals, school schoral performances and church musical activities.

 

James Sizemore

Jamey was a piano student of mine for approximately 8 years from second grade on. He is now a successful composer and audio engineer in NY city.  (See email from him p.18 with website).  He says my "methods must work! "   He has studied and worked with many composers, including Philip Glass and his works have been performed at Lincoln Center to excellent reviews.

 

David Garner

A former student of mine, who having spent a lot of time in my home as a playmate of my son, was very influenced by just hearing music at our house.  He is now pursuing his Doctorate in Composition this Fall, 2008 at Duke University.

 

Laura Tumeh

Masterclass Winner GMTA 2002

Conference Recitalist GMTA 2003

Finalist in the Young Musician's Competition, as an 8th grader competing with high school age, and with all instruments. Judged by Joel Levi and Evgeny Rivkin, 2002

 

Kana Yazawa

Ist Place Winner in the Kawaii Scholarship Auditions, Elementary Division , Atlanta, 1994

Outstanding Performer, GMTA 1994

 

Fiona Fang

Won Talent Award in Korean National Beauty Contest with her piano solo, 2005

Outstanding Performer GMTA 1992