In 2026, sdpa students took all three top spots in the Under-18 division at the MTAC Southern Regional, the largest competition stage in Southern California.
2026 Chopin Festival, SDPA faculty and their students won 17 of the 35 prizes.
Khai West is headed to UCLA to study with David Kaplan, capping a remarkable turnaround: he started with Chetan Tierra in 2023 barely playing seriously, and within seven months was winning prizes with Beethoven. See how far he's come, from Beethoven's Third Concerto to a 2026 competition sweep before college.
Arianna Gago earned an Honorable Mention at the San Diego Concerto Competition, performing Mendelssohn's First Concerto as one of the youngest in her division. Read the story behind her rapid rise, from an easier Chopin Nocturne to a spot in Colburn's Summer Piano Intensive, in under a year.
