~Pianists in Marjorie Lee Piano Studio~

THAI NGUYEN
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Hi! I am Thai Nguyen and I am a homeschooled 10th grader. I have been studying with Dr. Lee since 2016 and have enjoyed it very much. Aside from playing piano, I enjoy fishing, playing basketball, and boating. I was the 2024 second-place winner of FMMC Scholarship Competition.  The first-place winner of Maryland State Music Teachers E.R. Davis Competition for grades 9 & 10.  ​
Hello everyone! My name is Ellie Jiang and I’m a rising sixth grader at Westbriar Elementary School. I’ve been in the studio for  5 years, and I love being a part of our studio! I’ve been able to see myself grow so much from the moment I started playing piano! I’ve played so many unique and different songs and I have met so many talented pianists in competitions and in our studio especially. One of the achievements I am most proud of is winning 1st place in the Robert Spencer concerto competition. Some of my favorite composers include Liszt, Beethoven, and Bach. Besides piano, I like to read, draw, and play tennis. A favorite book of mine is Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. ​

ELLIE JIANG

ZACK LAM
Zack Lam is a sophomore at the IB Magnet Program of Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD. He has studied with Marjorie Lee for 4 years, and his most recent accomplishment has been winning the Virginia State MTNA Senior Piano Competition. Zack’s favorite composers include Ravel and Bartok, and recently he has also picked up an interest in Jazz. Outside of piano, Zack is passionate about history, economics, debate, and cooking.
EMMA HOU
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Hi, my name is Emma. I am currently a fifth grader at Wayside Elementary School located in Potomac, MD. I started to learn piano when I was five, and have been learning piano in Dr. Lee’s piano studio since 2020. I received winner awards from multiple piano competitions including Washington Music Teachers Association Specialty Competition Music of Germany, International Elite Music competition, Hartman piano competition, and Charleston International Music Competition 19th century music competition. I am co-leading a non-profit group named the Music and Love group and play piano and cello for senior communities every week. I am also playing cello in MCYO Chamber Strings.School life is becoming busy but I enjoy playing piano every night. I appreciate the time spent with music. 

John Samuel
John Samuel is a thirteen-year-old pianist, organist, harpsichordist, and composer. John is the winner of the Washington Music Teachers Association 2024 Novik Piano Concerto Competition Junior Division. Most recently, John was invited to present piano, organ, and harpsichord recitals at National Presbyterian Church (NPC) in Washington, D.C. which featured works including Bach's Leipzig Chorales and the complete Bach Goldberg Variations. John also received the Chopin Mazurka Award of the Chopin Avenue International Piano Competition. As organist, John holds two professional certifications from the American Guild of Organists (AGO): the Service Playing Certification and the Colleague Certification (CAGO). He received the CAGO Prize in 2024 for achieving the highest examination score in the nation. He was invited to play a full program of Bach on the organ at the 47th Annual Chevy Chase Bach Marathon in 2024. As composer, John is currently working on his first set of piano compositions in a Neo-Romantic style. He studies piano with Dr. Marjorie Lee and composition with Dr. Bohdan Syroyid.

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HIROKI MATSUI

Hiroki Matsui is a 10th grader at Battlefield High School. He has studied for the past 5 years under Dr. Marjorie Lee. He has won 1st place for the 2024 NVMTA Spencer Concerto Competition, 2022 MSMTA Gertrude Brown S. Memorial Piano Concerto Competition Senior Division, and the 2021 Elite International Competition. He also enjoys playing the oboe, and he is a member of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. He studies under Professor Key. In his free time, he enjoys playing with his dogs.

THEODORE KIM

Hello, I’m Theodore and I’m a rising 5th grade at Laurel Ridge Elementary School. My journey with music began at the age of one but formal training started at age five and now I’ve been studying with Dr. Lee since 2022. She has given me  challenging repertoire for practice. Some of my accomplishments include
2nd place in the 2023 VMTA State Audition
and 1st place in the 2024 NVMTA Achievement Awards competition for piano.
My hobbies include building model kits and playing Geometry Dash. 

RYAN QIN

Hi, my name is Ryan Qin and I am 10 years old. I started playing piano when I was 5 and I have been playing piano for 4 and a half years. I like playing the piano because I have learned how to focus by concentrating during my practice sessions. This year I got 1st place in AAMS and third in Spencer Concerto. Outside of piano, I also like to read, do Kung fu, and play Go.​
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SOPHIA LIN


Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology
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CHARLIE ZHAO
My name is Charlie Zhao and I am an 8th grader at Hallie Wells Middle School. I have studied piano with Dr. Lee since I was five years old. I have learned many aspects of music technique and expression through her lessons. I enjoy listening to classical, romantic, and impressionist composers such as Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff. Besides piano, I enjoy various hobbies such as martial arts, basketball, soccer, table tennis, violin, math, and STEM.
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ELLIE ZHAO

Hi everyone, my name is Ellie Zhao. I'm 8 years old and I'm a rising third grader at Westbriar Elementary School. This is my 4th year learning piano with Dr. Lee and I have enjoyed being one of her students. I like learning new pieces and I enjoy all of the pieces Dr. Lee has assigned me. I also like going to recitals and competitions. This year I’m learning to add more colors to my pieces and play my pieces more musically. 
When I’m not playing piano, I like reading, drawing and playing chess. My favorite thing to do outside is playing soccer with my friends.

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KAYE ALLEN

Hi, my name is Kaye Allen.
I just turned 9 years old in February and am the oldest of 5 children (my mom just had the 5th). My new brother is so cute!!!!!!!!!
I really like to ride horses, adore dogs, and draw. Last falI, I visited England and saw Stonehenge and rode horses through Hyde Park. One drawing that I have done is a woman with a black dog on her lap (I really like to draw animals).  Fencing class at a school for homeschoolers is my one of my favorite subjects right now.  I also really love to read. I do prefer nonfiction books of science, building robots, and cooking.
Some of my hobbies are tracking animals, going on hikes, doing gymnastics, and crafts. This summer, I am learning to do pottery and tumbling. I can't wait!!!!!!! I hope I learn to flip on the ground!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Other than that, I really want long hair so I can braid it. 
One of my most favorite pieces is called Bamkuchen by Yuyama. It is a dancey song that ends loudly. I have participated in Lee Studios for 2 years.  I love to put emoji's at the end of all my notes. 😃🦊🦁 

DAKOTA  MAN

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Greetings! 
     I am a rising sophomore at the Academies of Loudoun. This is my second year studying with Dr. Lee. I am very grateful to study with her as she has expanded my knowledge about the piano and musicality. This year I have performed in the Young Artists Musicale at George Mason University. In addition to my piano studies, I enjoy studying math and science, coding, and playing the euphonium in a band.

     Charlie Zhao and I were duet partners in this year's NVMTA Competition and we won  ​second place.  I was also an NVMTA BACH Honors Recital recipient.


NORA  MA

Hello,
   My name is Nora Ma. I am a 5th grader at Cold Spring Elementary School. I have been learning piano with Mrs. Lee since the fall of 2021. I feel very fortunate to become one of Dr. Lee’s students. I enjoy my piano lessons with Dr. Lee; they are very interesting and filled with details. I love all the studio events and I really enjoy the competitions! I have a wide range of interest in piano music styles and I like all kinds of piano pieces. But out of all the composers, I like Bach and Liszt best for their unique style of "stringing together"
many different melody lines.
​  I also like Karate, skiing, swimming, basketball, drawing, writing, and playing board games.
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VALENTINA SONG-YE
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SANDY CHOU

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Hi!  My name is Sandy. 
       I’ve been studying with Dr. Lee for 3 years and this year I'm a rising 6th grader.  
     I learned a lot with Dr. Lee this year, playing piano with a balanced melody and great tone, listening, sight-reading, and theory. In addition to my piano studies, my favorite things are reading, playing video games, swimming, playing with my dog, building Legos, and spending time with my family.   
​     May 12th I won third place in the Washington Music Teachers Association's 2024 Hartman Achievement Awards.     
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ANGELINA Song-Ye       &  Song-Ye Sisters   ✨
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Hello! I'm Angelina, a 6th grader at Westbriar Elementary, going to Kilmer next year! I've been in Dr. Lee's studio for almost seven years now, and I've learned so much in those years. I've learned a lot from Dr. Lee and my fellow pianists. I've met a lot of friends in the studio as well. This year I am working on achieving good tone and expressiveness. Dr. Lee is an amazing teacher, and has helped me so much during my piano studies, patiently guiding me in the right direction. My favorite piece so far is Petrarch Sonnet 123 by Liszt. Aside from piano, I also take art, violin, and lots of math classes. In my free time, I like to read, write, draw, walk in aimless circles, and exist with my very infuriating younger sister. I can't wait to keep learning this year!
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Gregory Peng

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​Hi, my name is Gregory Peng, and I am an 8th grader at Kilmer Middle School. I have been studying with Dr. Lee for the past six years. Thanks to her amazing teaching, I have improved my piano skills and become a better person. When not playing the piano, I enjoy spending time with my friends, learning about skincare routines, dealing with everyday drama, listening to Taylor Swift, and eating food.

Darius Lim

​Sarah Lim
Hi! My name is Darius Lim. I am seven years old and go to 2nd grad in Basis Independent McLean. I started playing piano with Dr Lee in Apr 2024 and I always enjoy my lessons with her! I also enjoy ice skating and reading in my free time. I hope to be a great pianist someday!
Hi! My name is Sarah Lim. I am five years old and go to Kindergarten at Basis Independent McLean. I started playing piano with Dr Lee in Apr 2024 and I love it so much! I also love all things pink and princesses. I enjoy music and ballet and can’t wait to learn more!

 Lilian  Kansal

​Hello, everyone!     I'm Lily Kansal.  I'm 7 years old, and  in 1st grade at Sidwell Friends (Bethesda)  school. Under the guidance of Dr. Marjorie Lee, I've fallen in love with the magic of music. The piano isn't just an instrument to me; it's a way to express myself and share my emotions with the world.  I'm     thrilled to be sharing my passion for piano each time I perform.   When I'm not playing, you can find me swimming, diving into books, or enjoying family vacations. But nothing brings me joy quite like the piano. ​

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Maya Kansal

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Hi! My name is Maya Kansal, and I’m an 11-year-old at Sidwell Friends. I’ve been in Dr. Lee’s studio for 1 year,as of now,  and I’ve learned so many new things! Dr. Lee has taught me skills that I can use both on and off the piano, including diligence, practice, and hard work! Some of my favorite things to do outside of piano include swimming, reading, and math. My favorite composer to play or listen to is Chopin, because his music is slow and meaningful. It brings feeling to the listener, and I enjoy the emotions the music evokes while listening.

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Maya and Lilian (Lily) Kansal

BOWEN WU

​Bio: Hi, my name is Bowen Wu and I’m in fifth grade at Haycock Elementary School. I started piano study with Dr. Lee in January 2022 and I am learning to appreciate the many shapes and colors of music every day. I once read that music is a gift, and I like to share this gift with myfamily and friends. Besides piano, I also like drawing, folding origami, swimming, biking, playing basketball and Chinese kung fu.






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BOYA WU

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Rosalie Glover


Hi, I am Rosalie Glover. I am seven years old and have been learning piano for two years. The upcoming year will be my first year with Dr. Lee, and I am looking forward to it. In addition to the piano, I am learning the violin. I also enjoy art, chess, math, figure skating, and tennis.

      SOPHIA ELSTON   
​ I am a rising 4th grader at Colvin Run Elementary. The three things I love most about piano are getting to play new songs, doing the dynamics, and playing at recitals.
           I find memorizing songs the most challenging thing about piano. In my spare time I like to read books, draw, and do math. I also love playing with my twin sister Avery and my little sister Amelia.

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Samantha Ren

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Hi, my name is Samantha Ren and I am an 8th grader at Kingsview Middle School. I have been studying piano with Dr. Lee for 5 years, and over the years. Dr. Lee has also helped me become more organized in all areas of my life. My favorite composer is Debussy and I enjoy playing music from the impressionist period. In my free time, I like to read, swim, draw, and play with my dog (Faith) and cats (Luke and Leia). My favorite books are the Hunger Games series and the Divergent series.

Ena Jung

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Hi! My name is Ena and I started playing the piano for the first time with Dr. Lee in January 2023. Since then, I've learned to love music and enjoy playing new pieces. Besides piano, I love ballet, ice skating, reading, arts and craft, smelling flowers, and everything that's bunnies!