Marika Yasuda '11

I have been learning the piano for nine years and my passion for it grows bigger and bigger each year. This year, thanks to the help of the Hal Tayloe Enrichment Scholarship, I attended an internationally recognized piano summer academy called the “International Institute for Young Musicians”. It was held on the campus of the University of Kansas in Laurence, KS. The nature and purpose of this academy are to offer instructions of the highest caliber to serious piano students from around the world who wish to improve their mastery of piano performance. The Hal Tayloe Scholarship made it possible for me to stay for a full four weeks of this summer academy as well as to have special private lessons by the distinguished guest teacher/legendary pianist, Mr. Emilio del Rosario. During these incredible and intensive weeks, I’ve experienced lots of wonderful things: 12 lessons by the internationally acclaimed teacher, hours of daily practice, student recitals every night, and classes such as music theory, ear training and piano mechanism. In spite of those intense schedules, I never felt like leaving there.

I was surrounded by so many amazing talented students. I was so inspired and motivated by them, and felt like “I’d do anything if only I could play like her/him…” And it is just priceless to make life-long friends with them who have the same dream, share the same passion and understand what it takes to do great at school and at piano as well. The bond among us gets very strong. Instead of being competitive, they are very nice, funny, encouraging, and extremely fun to around. It was definitely the best and most meaningful summer of all in my life. I thank my school HRA and the beloved teacher Mr. Tayloe who created such a wonderful scholarship. Now I am not afraid of dreaming big and would not give it up easily no matter how hard it is.