~Pianists in Marjorie Lee Piano Studio~
CALEB DING
SAMANTHA REN
Hi, my name is Samantha and I am from Germantown, Maryland. I am a rising Sophmore at Richard Montgomery High School in the International Baccalaureate Magnet program in Rockville, Maryland. I have been studying piano with Dr. Lee for 7 years, since 2018, and I have learned much about listening, tone, and interpretation. My favorite composer is Debussy and I enjoy playing music from the impressionist period. I have three pets, one dog, Faith, and two cats, Luke and Leia. In my free time, I enjoy swimming, reading, and spending time with my family and friends.
DANIEL DU
Hi, I’m Daniel!
I’m in 2nd grade, and I’ve been playing piano for 3 years. I started learning with Dr. Lee last year and I really like my lessons with her. I' had a great time at WMTA Modern Music Celebration and I'm looking forward to the 2025 NVMTA Bach FestivalI. My duet partner, Boya, and I are learning a Beethoven Sonata. I am having fun learning new songs and getting better at playing as I performed in the NVMTA General Recital
When I’m not playing piano, I love building Lego, doing math, and playing soccer.
I can’t wait to learn even more piano songs!
THAI NGUYEN |
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.
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LY-LY OUY |
Hi, My name is Ly-Ly. I have been a student with Dr. Lee for six months. During these months I have become friends with Valentina and we have begun a duet team for fun. I have participated in the Maryland State Music Teachers Concerto Competition, the Spencer Concerto Competition where I won third prize, the VMTA State Theory Examination and the NVMTA Bach Festival where I received HONORS and was selected to perform in the Honors Recital! I love to play the piano and enjoy the moment. Aside from piano, I love to dance, rap, and sing. I put on shows at home for my family for fun. Some of my favorite sports are basketball, pickleball, swimming and skiing.
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ENA JUNG ??? |
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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.
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ELLIE JIANG |
ZACK LAM
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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.
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EMMA HOU
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Hi! My name is Emma and I am a sixth grader at Herbert Hoover Middle School 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. Dr. Lee has helped me improve both my interpretation and technique, especially my arch! I received awards from multiple piano competitions including the Robert Spencer Piano Concerto Competition, NVMTA District Auditions, Hartman Piano Competition, and Sonata Festival. Some of my favorite pianists are Debussy and Schumann. When I’m not playing piano, I’m probably doing homework, playing tennis, crocheting, or playing with my energetic, crazy dog, Landon.
HIROKI MATSUI
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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 |
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Theodore Kim is a fifth grader at Laurel Ridge Elementary in Spanish Immersion and Advanced Academic Program and has been studying piano with Dr. Marjorie Lee since 2022. He has won many awards including the 2nd place in 2023 VMTA State Audition, 1st place in 2024 NVMTA Achievement Awards, Grand Prize Winner in 2024 Korean Youth Honor Society Music Competition in Washington D.C., performing at Carnegie Hall, 1st place in 2024 WMTA Modern Music Competition, 2025 NVMTA Robert Spencer Piano Concerto and 2025 MSMTA Gertrude Brown Memorial Piano Concerto Competitions. His favorite composers are Chopin and Rachmaninoff. He loves listening to Hayato Sumino’s Jazz rendition of classical music. He is an avid reader, writer and has started getting interested in composition.
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RYAN QIN
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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. |
SOPHIA LINThomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology |
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SOPHIA LIN
Sophia Lin, senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, is a two-time
National YoungArts Winner in Classical Music, Davidson Fellows Honorable Mention Winner in
Music, and National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Youth Fellow. She had her orchestral debut at
age 12 and has performed as the concerto soloist with four symphony orchestras across Virginia,
New York, and Maryland, including the Amadeus Orchestra, the Liberty University Symphony
Orchestra, the MostArts Symphony Orchestra, and the New England Youth Ensemble (NEYE).
Sophia has been invited to perform both five solo and chamber music concerts at the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and has performed at other prestigious venues such as
the George Mason University Center for the Performing Arts and was invited to perform at the
Hungarian Embassy’s first in-person gathering. She has won numerous regional, national and
international competitions. In 2023 and 2024 alone, she has won the First-Place prize in the
Marian-Garcia International Piano Competition, Friday Morning Music Club (FMMC) George
Manos Piano Competition, Gertrude Brown Concerto Competition, E.R. Davis Piano
Competition, Robert Spencer Piano Concerto Competition, Virginia Achievement Awards along
with the Second-Place prize in MostArts Festival, Honorable Mention awards in David D.
Dubois Piano Competition and Nashville International Piano Competition, and was a two-time
finalist at the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition. As four-time State Winner of
MTNA Piano Competition, Sophia has represented Washington, D.C. and Virginia in the MTNA
Eastern and Southern Division Piano Competitions respectively. Sophia enjoys sharing her love
of music and organizing weekend concerts for assisted living residents across the D.C. area.
National YoungArts Winner in Classical Music, Davidson Fellows Honorable Mention Winner in
Music, and National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Youth Fellow. She had her orchestral debut at
age 12 and has performed as the concerto soloist with four symphony orchestras across Virginia,
New York, and Maryland, including the Amadeus Orchestra, the Liberty University Symphony
Orchestra, the MostArts Symphony Orchestra, and the New England Youth Ensemble (NEYE).
Sophia has been invited to perform both five solo and chamber music concerts at the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and has performed at other prestigious venues such as
the George Mason University Center for the Performing Arts and was invited to perform at the
Hungarian Embassy’s first in-person gathering. She has won numerous regional, national and
international competitions. In 2023 and 2024 alone, she has won the First-Place prize in the
Marian-Garcia International Piano Competition, Friday Morning Music Club (FMMC) George
Manos Piano Competition, Gertrude Brown Concerto Competition, E.R. Davis Piano
Competition, Robert Spencer Piano Concerto Competition, Virginia Achievement Awards along
with the Second-Place prize in MostArts Festival, Honorable Mention awards in David D.
Dubois Piano Competition and Nashville International Piano Competition, and was a two-time
finalist at the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition. As four-time State Winner of
MTNA Piano Competition, Sophia has represented Washington, D.C. and Virginia in the MTNA
Eastern and Southern Division Piano Competitions respectively. Sophia enjoys sharing her love
of music and organizing weekend concerts for assisted living residents across the D.C. area.
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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. 😃🦊🦁
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
Greetings!
I am a rising junior 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.
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 ✨
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!
Gregory Peng
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.
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Darius Lim |
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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!
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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!
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CALEB DING |
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BOWEN WU
BOYA WU
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Rosalie GloverHi, 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. |
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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.
Samantha Ren
Ena Jung
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!
