Pleasanton Academy of Music Summer Achievements: A Season of Excellence and Global Recognition
Posted on August 14, 2024
Summer is often seen as a time to relax and take a break from the usual routines, but for the dedicated students of Pleasanton Academy of Music in East Bay, California, this summer was anything but ordinary. Our talented musicians took their skills to the next level, representing the United States and our academy on an international stage.
This summer, a group of our exceptional students traveled to Germany and France to participate in the prestigious International Music Festival and Competition, “Music Through the Centuries.” These young musicians, including Asha and Jay Bhola, Joohyuk Yim, Rayan Wasif, Nicholas Stefanus, Joshua Lam, Francesca Alsua, Sophie Chandhoke, Momo Okubo, Victoria Liang, and Joowon Yim, worked tirelessly to hone their piano and violin skills under the guidance of renowned European and American professors like Vitaliy Berton, Ekaterina Danilova, Tatiana Rostovtseva, Linli Wang, Alec Sloane, and others at the Offenburg School of Music in Germany.
Our students made such a remarkable impression at the festival that a German newspaper published an article about them, highlighting their achievements and the impact they made. We are thrilled to share that Pleasanton Academy of Music is now officially famous in Europe!
The festival concluded with a spectacular performance featuring participants from around the world. Our students made an incredible impression, demonstrating remarkable progress in just four days of masterclasses. Their dedication and passion were evident, and they represented Pleasanton Academy of Music and the USA with pride and excellence.
Meanwhile, another group of our talented musicians—Aanya Hiremath, Anisha Padhy, Sreeya Durga, East Reyes, Neil Verma, and Yash Durga—flew to the beautiful city of Strasbourg, France, to compete in the final round of the “Music Through the Centuries” competition. This event was held in the historic concert hall, Salle du Munsterhof, a venue that has hosted legendary composers and performers such as W.A. Mozart and F. Liszt.
Competing against the best 40 musicians from around the world, including representatives from the USA, Germany, India, Switzerland, Poland, Ukraine, and more, our students showcased their exceptional talent and hard work. The results were nothing short of spectacular:
- Momo Okubo won First Place (Piano)
- East Reyes won Second Place (Piano)
- Nicholas Stefanus won Second Place (Violin)
- Joowon Yim won Second Place (Piano)
- Yash Durga won Second Place (Guitar)
- Joohyuk Yim won Third Place (Piano)
- Anisha Padhy won Third Place (Vocal)
We are incredibly proud of all our students who participated in these international events. Their achievements are a testament to their dedication, talent, and the high-quality education they receive at Pleasanton Academy of Music. This summer’s success is a reminder that hard work and passion know no season—our students continue to shine, even when the rest of the world slows down.
Congratulations to all our students on their outstanding achievements! We look forward to seeing where their musical journeys will take them next.
