For senior Anna Huynh, piano is more than just a hobby; it’s a unique, wordless expression of herself, she said. Having found success at various competitions and recitals, piano has been one of Huynh’s focuses for the past few years, she said.
“Parents want their kids to do extracurriculars, so my parents signed me up for piano lessons,” Huynh said. “Later on, as I played more, I ended up really liking playing piano as a hobby.”
Huynh started playing piano when she was eight years old, she said.
“I remember one specific moment that made me want to take piano more seriously,” Huynh said. “Listening to a Chopin piece for the first time really captured me and made me want to grow as a pianist.”
Chopin’s pieces have continued to capture Huynh’s interest in the musical world, she said.
“I prefer to play more musical pieces than technical pieces,” Huynh said. “His pieces are so musical and their melodies are just beautifully crafted.”
Huynh’s most recent competition was the Golden Classical Music Awards competition, where she placed first, allowing her to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, she said.
“Playing at Carnegie Hall was one of the best experiences of my life,” Huynh said. “Just being able to perform at a place where most pianists would dream to perform (…) was a really surreal experience, and I’m grateful for it.”
In the past, Huynh has also had the opportunity to compete in other prestigious competitions, such as one in Europe, she said.
“I think that one was one of the turning points for me in my piano career,” Huynh said. “After that, I think the way I started playing began to mature even further, especially as I practiced through COVID.”
Performing at such a level requires consistent practice, Huynh said. Huynh usually practices for three hours a day, but practices up to five hours a day in preparation for competitions and recitals, Huynh said.
“In recent years, I’ve definitely had piano as my focus,” Huynh said. “But now that I am going to college, I think I’ll scale down a little.”
Huynh attributes a lot of her success to her parents, as they have always been supportive of her throughout her journey, she said.
“My parents always encouraged me in piano and really just in general,” Huynh said. “They never forced me to play piano. I know that if I didn’t like piano, they wouldn’t have forced me to do it.”
Huynh also appreciates the support from her current piano teacher, whom she has built a strong relationship with, she said.
“My piano teacher also plays a big part, she pushes me to do the best I can, but also not to be too hard on myself,” Huynh said.
Huynh does not plan on fully dedicating her time to piano in college and as a future career, but still wants to keep it as an important hobby, she said.
“In college, I’m planning to teach piano students, so I can keep a sort of piano career,” Huynh said.
Throughout her years in competitions and recitals, Huynh’s approach towards piano in general has evolved drastically, she said.
“My mindset has changed by reminding myself to not be too hard on myself, to just tell myself to have fun,” Huynh said. “The main goal of a competition isn’t to win, but to share your music with others.”