2026 Students' Reflections
Senior & Alumni Reflection
Summerlin Piano Studio
Trinity Hsu
Palo Verde High School / UCLA pre-med Program
Playing piano has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I attribute much of how I view life and its challenges to the lessons I learned from it.Â
I still remember the first time I saw Grieg’s Concerto in A Minor. I was overwhelmed by its difficulty and length. However, Ms. Juliana taught me patience, discipline, and perseverance, ideals that I still carry with me today. With her encouragement and unwavering support, what once seemed impossible became one of my proudest accomplishments.
Even now, as I enter my senior year of college, piano remains an important part of my life.
Whenever I have the time and opportunity, I always find myself back at the piano. It’s a place where I can relieve my stress and just be in the moment.
Words cannot fully describe how great Ms. Juliana truly is. Looking back, she deserves much more credit for being such an amazing teacher to me, and for taking the time to be by my side in some of my hardest times. My appreciation for piano and motivations in life, as well as my multiple awards, would not be possible without Ms. Juliana. I wholeheartedly believe that she is an exceptional teacher and would choose her again every single time!
Joson Li,
graduated from Clark High School 2026
Piano could perhaps be called one of the biggest reasons I was able to get into a prestigious college like Harvard. When I first came to Ms. Juliana’s class, I remember receiving the first D of my life. Oh, the motivation I felt to play that day.
Over time, I often unintentionally found myself playing regardless of how busy I was. I played to clear my mind, hear new melodies, and especially to relax whenever I felt stressed by academics. Luckily, practicing with Ms. Juliana also came with the potential benefit of placing first in the state.
Piano helped my ten-year-old self develop self-control, improve my time management, and find something to look at other than an iPad. My mom also constantly preached that learning piano would make it impossible for me to develop a hunchback, which would somehow help me grow taller. I can now only conclude that she may have been right.
Beyond everything I have already stated, Ms. Juliana is truly a wonderful person. I often look back and think she may have been a saint, because she certainly had the patience of one. My passion for piano, the numerous first-place state medals I have received, and the habits I have developed today could not have blossomed without Ms. Juliana. With all of that being said, I wholeheartedly vouch for her, and I truly believe you will have no regrets choosing Ms. Juliana!
Kellie Chung
Winner of National Junior Festival - March , 2023
Junior Festival Winners Award
17 students received Honors from National Junior Festival in March 2023.
Kellie was an ambitious, albeit fledgling, pianist. Our previous piano teachers weren’t able to teach Kellie to the depth that we were looking for. That’s why we’re so glad to have found Mrs. Juliana. Mrs. Juliana has changed not only Kellie’s technique in piano but also her view on music itself. What sets Mrs. Juliana apart from other piano teachers is her attention to detail. The smallest things make the biggest differences in piano, and Mrs. Juliana is well aware of this. It’s incredible how much Kellie has improved after all those little fixes. She’s enjoying playing piano much more and once she’s gotten used to the technical side of things, she gets to pour her emotions into her music. Lessons with Mrs. Juliana are always engaging and informative: Besides instructing Kellie on how to play the music, Mrs. Juliana provides interesting tales on the background of the piece and composer, which always enlightens Kellie on how to play the piece better and more expressively.
With Mrs. Juliana, Kellie has won numerous awards, including:
2018 Steinway & Sons Junior Piano Competition
- Division I 1st Place Winner
Nevada Music Teachers Association Silver State Competition
- Piano Solo Classical 1st Place Winner 2022
- Piano Solo Classical 1st Place Winner 2020
- Piano Solo Social 1st Place Winner 2020
- Piano Solo Classical 2nd Place Winner 2018
- Piano Solo Social 1st Place Winner 2018
National Federation Junior Festivals (Piano)
- Superior with Honors 2023
- Superior with Honors 2019
- Superior 2018
