Arianna Gago Earns Honorable Mention at the San Diego Concerto Competition

Congratulations to Arianna Gago, student of Melissa Evans Tierra, who earned an Honorable Mention in the 15-18 division (one of three age divisions) at the San Diego Concerto Competition in February. She performed the first movement of Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor as one of the youngest competitors in her division, up against peers performing concertos like Rachmaninoff's Second, some of the most demanding works in the repertoire.

The result caps a fast climb. When Arianna came to Melissa last June and said she wanted to pursue going to conservatory, Melissa was upfront about how much work that would take. At the time, Arianna was playing at the level of an easier Chopin Nocturne. She took it to heart, convincing her parents to let her homeschool through high school to free up more time to practice, and the progress since then has been steady and fast.

This week brought another milestone: Arianna was accepted into Colburn's Summer Piano Intensive, again on the younger end of the applicant pool. The program opens doors to exactly the kind of connections and opportunities she'll need going forward.

In Melissa's words:

> "What matters more to me than the result is the story behind it. When Arianna came to me last June and told me she wanted to go to conservatory, I was honest with her about how much work she had ahead. She took it to heart in a way that impressed me. I have to confess, I didn't get a recording of her Mendelssohn. I was too busy being on the edge of my seat the way I always am when my students perform, worrying about them, willing them forward. That part never gets easier, and I don't think I'd want it to."

Arianna's next competition, a Chopin competition, is next month. More to celebrate soon.