Competition Participants

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Veronika Alieksieieva began taking vocal/piano lessons at age 5 at

5 (School of the Arts, No.5). Veronika moved to El Paso, Texas in April 2022 due to the war in Ukraine. She continues to share her love of music with others everywhere she goes.

Orlando Baca began piano lessons in 2010 at the age of 3 years. He enjoys playing music and recently participated in UIL piano solo competition where he received a 1C rating and will participate in State UIL this coming May.

Sophia Cao. A smart, book-loving 11 year old who has played piano for 5 1/2 years. She has participated in lots of piano competitions and recitals.

I am Joanne Caranto, a sophomore studying civil engineering at UTEP. Though I am not currently majoring in piano, it has always played an important role in my life. Playing and performing the piano is an outlet for me to express a range of emotions.

Judy Caranto is 15 years old and a homeschooled sophomore. She has been playing piano for 7 years. Besides piano, she enjoys spending time with her sisters and family, reading, baking, and eating Filipino foods.

Ricardo Castellano, Commercial Music major, University of Texas at El Paso, began studying piano at the age of 12; lived in El Paso, Texas for his entire life; former performer for the El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble; is currently the pianist for the UTEP Jazz 1 Ensemble.

My name is Cindy Chen. I have been learning piano for about 3 years and love it. This is my first time doing the Chopin festival. Hope you will like it.

Eric Chico, I have been playing the piano for 5 years and am very dedicated, and I plan on pursuing piano as a career. I participate in everything I can for the piano and always try to play best to my abilities.

Anna Dang is a twelve-year-old pianist who has been practicing the art of music since age 5.She has a supportive teacher who always pushed her to her limits, and helped her learn how to enjoy music and achieve all she has accomplished.

My name is David Diau, I am currently in 9th grade and have been playing piano for around six years. My favorite hobbies are swimming and drawing. My favorite subject in school is math.

Competition Participants

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Veronika Alieksieieva began taking vocal/piano lessons at age 5 at Школа мистецтв 5 (School of the Arts, No.5). Veronika moved to El Paso, Texas in April 2022 due to the war in Ukraine. She continues to share her love of music with others everywhere she goes.

Orlando Baca began piano lessons in 2010 at the age of 3 years. He enjoys playing music and recently participated in UIL piano solo competition where he received a 1C rating and will participate in State UIL this coming May.

Sophia Cao. A smart, book-loving 11 year old who has played piano for 5 1/2 years. She has participated in lots of piano competitions and recitals.

I am Joanne Caranto, a sophomore studying civil engineering at UTEP. Though I am not currently majoring in piano, it has always played an important role in my life. Playing and performing the piano is an outlet for me to express a range of emotions.

Judy Caranto is 15 years old and a homeschooled sophomore. She has been playing piano for 7 years. Besides piano, she enjoys spending time with her sisters and family, reading, baking, and eating Filipino foods.

Ricardo Castellano, Commercial Music major, University of Texas at El Paso, began studying piano at the age of 12; lived in El Paso, Texas for his entire life; former performer for the El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble; is currently the pianist for the UTEP Jazz 1 Ensemble.

My name is Cindy Chen. I have been learning piano for about 3 years and love it. This is my first time doing the Chopin festival. Hope you will like it.

Eric Chico, I have been playing the piano for 5 years and am very dedicated, and I plan on pursuing piano as a career. I participate in everything I can for the piano and always try to play best to my abilities.

Anna Dang is a twelve-year-old pianist who has been practicing the art of music since age 5.She has a supportive teacher who always pushed her to her limits, and helped her learn how to enjoy music and achieve all she has accomplished.

My name is David Diau, I am currently in 9th grade and have been playing piano for around six years. My favorite hobbies are swimming and drawing. My favorite subject in school is math.

Magdalena Baczewska

Hailed by the press as “One of the most innovative, even radical classical keyboardists in the U.S.” and described as “Columbia University professor by day, musical sorceress by night,” pianist and harpsichordist Magdalena Baczewska [pronounced ba-CHEV-ska] enjoys a versatile career as a concert artist, educator, speaker, and administrator. Having debuted as a soloist with the Silesian Philharmonic at age 12 in her native Poland, Baczewska performed internationally with the world’s leading orchestras: Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, China National Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, among others.

Baczewska has appeared in Performance with Grammy and Oscar-winning artists, including violinist Joshua Bell, composer Charles Fox (the author of the Grammy-winning hit song “Killing Me Softly with His Song”), and composer Tan Dun, with whom she has toured extensively throughout China and the U.S. Baczewska has performed Tan Dun’s music in such venues as the Tanglewood Music Festival, Guangzhou Opera House, Beijing National Center for Performing Arts, Davies Symphony Hall, and Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center. At the invitation of the composer, Baczewska also recorded Tan Dun’s chamber music and the Piano Sonata in Shanghai’s Water Heavens Hall.

Baczewska is the Director of the Music Performance Program at Lecturer in Music at Columbia University. She has given master classes and lectures around the world (Beijing Central Conservatory, New York University, International Keyboard Institute, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Manhattan School of Music). At Columbia, she enjoys a busy academic life, mentoring and providing performance opportunities for the student musicians, teaching Music Humanities (a part of Columbia’s famed Core Curriculum), and working with the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange students in Performance Seminar. As an avid advocate of equal access to music education, Baczewska is actively involved in outreach, bringing music to non-specialist audiences of all age groups, from public school children, to homebound seniors. She is the author and producer of “Bach@Home,” a series of publicfacing lecture performances. She is a recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage for promoting Polish culture abroad. Baczewska is a Yamaha Artist. MagdalenaNYC.com

Isabella Tosado-Diaz’s love for piano began early, but lessons began 5 years ago. She was diagnosed epileptic at 3, lost mobility, and wasn’t expected to resume a normal life, but God had other plans, and piano helped carry her through. Now, she aspires to continue growing in both faith and music.

Kathryn Haluschak, a high school senior, has enjoyed studying the piano for about thirteen years. She loves the music of Frederic Chopin, especially his etudes.

Daniel Herrera is a Hispanic high school student who, along with playing the piano, loves to learn about fields such as computer science, mathematics, physics, and music theory. After graduating from high school, Daniel plans to study computer science in college.

Noah Hsieh, listening to music is part of my daily life. I start creating my own music, and hopefully it’ll be good enough to show people someday. I also enjoy playing basketball!

My name is Charlotte Jackson, I am a ninth grader at Coronado, and I love music and playing the piano and violin.

Hello! My name is Angelicka Jimenez, and piano I have been in love with piano since I started. During school, I’m also part of the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) as well as the executive board for Student Council. During my free time, I like to spend time with my family or make food.

Rebekah Li has been taking piano lessons with Mrs. Anna Habicht since 2019. Sophia Li, 11 years old, is a 5th grader in Lundy Elementary school. She started to learn piano 4 years ago and received the Irma Kluck Baroque competition 1st place award previously. She is fond of piano and swimming.

My name is William Liang, I have been playing the piano for 5 years. I like swimming, basketball, and soccer. My favorite things to do in my free time is to read and build with Legos.

Alex Lin was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 3, 2010. I have been playing the piano since I was six.

My name is Carolina Maldonado. I am in 10th grade, and I attend Andress high school. Music has always been an important part of my life. I have been playing piano since before I could read.

My name is Samantha Molina . I am 18 years old and a senior in high school. I have been playing piano since I was 5 years old and hope to continue to do so far into the future. I enjoyed learning these pieces and hope you enjoy listening.

My name is Sarah Molina , and I am fifteen years old. I have been playing the piano since I was four years old and still enjoy playing today. Chopin is one of my favorite composers, and I have enjoyed playing these pieces.

My name is Yael Romero, I study at Tec de Monterrey in Ciudad Juarez and am currently in 12th grade. I have studied piano since I was 5, and now, my teacher is Claudia Luna, an UTEP alumni.

Ittai Schwieger enjoyed playing piano for several years and has participated in several competitions and festivals. He also plays with a church ensemble most Sunday mornings. He enjoys gardening and has served at Jardin de Milagros, which supplies fresh produce to the local food pantry.

Rebecca Sias is a Senior at Coronado High School. She has studied piano since the age of 5 and has participated in events such as the Summer Music Festival and the El Paso Performance Competition. She looks forward to maintaining her enjoyment of music in college and beyond.

I am Oliver Su, I played piano for 5 years. I like Mozart and Beethoven since they made so many great music. Although sometimes practicing piano is boring, and the road is full of challenges and difficulties, I hope I can never give up.

Sabrina Sun started her piano lesson in fall 2019 with Ms Anna Habicht. She likes music, art and math. She is currently a 3rd grader at Lundy Elementary School.

Hello! My name is Ashley Tang , I am a freshman at Coronado High School and a part of the swim team. I started playing the piano when I was 5 years old. During my leisure time, I love playing the piano, swimming and hanging out with my friends and family. I often volunteer for my swim team and help coach young swimmers. Not only helping swim, I also help my El Paso community as well, for example, helping at animal shelters (I love pets!).

Sandra Acero Terrazas is a student at The Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juarez. She participated in recitals and as a soloist. She teaches visually impaired students in Juarez.

Saturday, March 4

7:30 p.m. Guest Artist Recital. Magdalena Baczewska

UTEP Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall

Program

Preludes op. 1, No. 1, 5, 7 Karol Szymanowski

Nocturnes op. 9 Fryderyk Chopin

I. Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9, No. 1

II.Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9, No. 2

III.Nocturne in B major, Op. 9, No. 3

Battle of Manassas Thomas ‘Blind Tom’ Wiggins

Intermission

Troubled Water Margaret Bonds

Fantaisie impromptu, op. 66 Fryderyk Chopin

Fantaisie nègre No. 1 Florence Price

Polonaise, op. 40 no. 1 Fryderyk Chopin

Sunday, March 5

2:30 p.m. Winners Concert and Award Ceremony

UTEP Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall

Saturday, March 25

7:30 p.m. Guest Artist Recital. Prof. Andrzej Pikul (Poland)

UTEP Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall