With a pedal box under her feet because her short legs can’t touch the floor, three-year-old Kaitlyn Ouyang sits as close as she can to the piano in order to reach all of the keys.
Ouyang started playing piano at a young age, following in her concert pianist mother’s footsteps. Now a junior, Ouyang has continued to play piano in local, state and national competitions, and she has big aspirations for her future.
“I would like to win a national title,” Ouyang said. “But, we’re going to have to see how that one goes.”
Throughout her career, Ouyang has been inspired and molded by a wide range of powerful figures within the music industry.
“In terms of influences, my favorite is Martha Argerich, and then I’m a big Yuja Wang fan, but I don’t think anyone is not a Yuja Wang fan if they play the piano, “Ouyang said. “In terms of composers, I’m a big Chopin girl, but Tchaikovsky has my favorite concerto.”
Overall, Ouyang’s experience with piano has shaped her as a musician, as a student but most of all as a well-rounded person.
“Piano has given me an outlet to express my feelings in an artistic manner,” Ouyang said. “It’s given me a platform to stand on and an identity to build off of, especially during my childhood.”
Sophomore Holly Hughes, who started playing piano at five years old, has had many impactful moments throughout her life as a pianist, but one in particular stands out.
“I had this one performance, I believe it was in seventh grade, and I was playing “Go the Distance” from Disney’s’ Hercules and “Misty Mountains” from The Hobbit,” Hughes said. “There was this one section from “Go the Distance” that I had constantly worked on, and I played it perfectly in the recital.”
Even now, she will sometimes listen to this piece to remind herself of what she can achieve. When Hughes thinks about the role that piano has played since she was five years old, she has come to the common consensus that it has been something that has shaped a large portion of her life.
Freshman Sarah Nosratinia has had a similar experience to Ouyang and Hughes. She started playing piano at four years old because of her parents’ request.
“Even though they allowed me to start it, I chose to continue it,” Nosratina said. “I think this is because I really like making music.”
Nosratina takes part in a type of competition called a “festival,” where a judge grades you on how well you did with your piece, but she also does typical local tournaments. She usually sticks to one hour a day of practice so that she is able to balance schoolwork and piano.
These three girls’ skill and dedication strike every note of what it means to be a Hockadaisy: disciplined, creative and endlessly expressive. Piano has played a large role in their childhood and will continue to be an important part of their lives.
“Overall, piano is kind of just a constant in my life,” Hughes said. “It’s my therapy.”
