MN: Juan Domingo Alvarez has taken piano from Helen Marie Plourde in St. Paul for the past three years. In his own words: "I am grateful to all of the people that helped me to go through my school years; my family, teachers, friends and mentors. Thanks for the opportunities to learn and grow. I plan to go to college and stay in the Twin Cities to do my generals and explore my career path in the social sciences. I want to work to make positive changes in people's lives. While working, I'll be using my skills and talents to enjoy life."

MO: Charles Askew is a piano student of Joyce Berg, who shares an amazing story of challenging circumstances: "At age 2 Charles asked for piano lessons which he received to a limited extent. He studied piano in grade school with a jazz gospel teacher. In his early teens he turned to classical music and taught himself. His grandfather raised him until passing away when Charles was 9. At age 12, he moved in with his single mother, who was mentally and emotionally challenged. He eventually declared emancipation from her in the summer. I find it highly significant that he did not go the common route of drugs and alcohol that marks so many young people under such circumstances, and that he had the initiative to train himself in performance and composition. He has no family support and was listed as homeless at his school."

Joyce discovered Charles at a solo and ensemble contest in which he performed the Chopin Posthumous Polonaise in b-flat minor, self-taught and impressively performed and offered him MusicLink lessons. She knew he was an unusual student who had perfect pitch, even tuning his old spinet himself with an Allen wrench. Charles has conquered major repertoire, including his own etudes, compositions and arrangements on the level of Horowitz’s Wedding March. He sometimes made his own staff paper for these creations. He performed several benefit concerts to assist in his college funding. Thanks to numerous scholarships, he will be attending the University of Missouri, Columbia in Piano Performance in the Fall.

MN: Isaac Bremseth has been a lover of classical music and an excellent student of theory and piano repertoire; he has studied with Kathleen Van Doeren for 13 years. He has won the MMTA Contest five times, played in one or two Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum Recitals every year and participated in the National Guild Auditions every year but one. In those auditions, he has always scored a Superior Rating. Isaac's additional accomplishments are the achievement rank of Eagle Scout and triple letters in football, Track and Nordic Skiing. Isaac received a full college scholarship to Marquette University in Milwaukee.

VA: Kristen Crook began her violin studies with Christina Morton at HomeSchool Plus in Virginia Beach as a four year old, following in her older brother and sister's footsteps. She is currently a member of the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has competed in several concerto competitions and is concertmistress of the Advanced Orchestra at Young Musicians of Virginia and is first violinist of the Suzuki Strings of Hampton Roads Violin Quartet, and violist for the Charis String Quartet. She received the Carroll Bailey Scholarship Award from YMV. She enjoys singing and acting as well.

UT: Christian DeSpain discovered piano as a means of expressing what is most beautiful at an early age, and we will be forever particularly grateful to the two amazing women who nurtured his talent by sacrificing their own time and talent, and often their own personal resources: Annette Houston and Penni Eads! With love they have taught discipline and brought accomplishment (let's hear it for Level 10 completion!!) into his life in a way that others could not. As he embarks on an LDS mission to the New York Utica mission, he brings not just his love of music, but the capacity to interject this soulful communication into the conversation of conversion. MusicLink played an integral part in keeping us going when tuition was tough during single mom days, and the Mundi Project brought our poor little piano into the world of functioning instruments! So much to be grateful for; so many people whose efforts combined to make one family's life more beautiful. THANK YOU! (written by Christian's mother)

MO: Ian DeWalt is a piano student of Joyce Berg and also is an accomplished cellist. He was chosen to perform for the recital masterclass with UMKC professor Jane Solose this fall. He received number 1 in ratings at District and State High School Solo and Ensemble contests. Ian participated as accompanist in his high school musicals, jazz band and string ensembles. He is planning to attend William Jewell College, majoring in music performance on cello and piano.

TX: Russell Dickerson is a gifted young man who has studied piano with Sherry Frush for 7 years. His passion for music and learning continue to increase and his hard work and dedication are quite evident - especially when he's on stage performing, at a lesson or practicing at home. Russell has been a wonderful student with high goals and supportive parents which is a terrific combination. He works hard, is extremely intelligent and a gentleman. His kind demeanor is a wonderful presence in Frush Music Studio where he is on staff. Russell has made a significant difference both with computer and office work as well as teaching young students piano and theory. Russell is also a strong leader with excellent morals and behavior. He was a very active honor student at Wylie High School where he was on the Cross Country Track Team, named All District cross country first team, and is a leader in his church youth group. Russell received a scholarship to attend the University of Texas where he will be a freshman Fall 2015.

CA: Jason Espana is a graduate of Woodside High School in Redwood City, CA and has studied piano with Sue Field for two years. He completed the RCM Grade 1 piano and Basic Rudiments of Theory that he passed with Distinction. He hopes to continue his piano studies as well as saxophone while at San Francisco State University. His teacher said, "it was a genuine pleasure teaching him."

TX: Mandy Faccenda has studied piano with Sherry Frush for seven years, who describes her as "an exemplary student with quite a lot of natural talent, discipline, and an excellent work ethic." Mandy has multiple talents, performing on voice, guitar and piano in her senior recital. She has continually achieved honors in Abilene Music Teachers Association festivals and contests and has been on the staff of the Frush Music Studio for the past four years. Mandy plans to major in music education at Hardin-Simmons University and earned scholarships in piano and through her grades that will pay for most of her college education.

Selena Herr studied piano with Anna Jeanne Flesner for nine years where she was active in Federation and National Guild events. She was in Tracy High School Choir for three years and also accompanied the choir on piano and played guitar in small school vocal ensembles. As a senior, she took three college classes while in high school and performed in band, choir, and was active in speech, the National Honor Society, and Peer Helpers. She also performed piano, guitar and vocally in church worship. Selena had also taken college courses during her sophomore and junior years. She is planning to pursue the path of a physician's assistant in college and is very grateful for the help she received through MusicLink.

UT: Liam Howard has studied the piano for 11 years, his last five years with Joyce Hawkins. "With the help of Mrs. Hawkins, I not only learned how to play the piano, but also learned what it takes to become a proper performer and accompanist." He enjoys accompanying in church as well as with different instrumentalists and as rehearsal pianist for his high school theater department. He played alto saxophone in the marching band through high school, performing in solo and ensembles as a soloist and an accompanist. He also is active in track and field as well as AP studies, but still finds time to sketch and make videos, including producing a local television show about high school sports. Liam is an active church member, attending seminary regularly for four years. He plans to attend BYU Provo for a semester prior to a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

MO: Ansar Lemon is a piano student of Joyce Berg. He has received many honors for his achievements in music, including first place in the 2015 Talent Hunt Competition in the Kansas City area sponsored by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. It included a $250 award and an all-expenses-paid trip to Des Moines, Iowa. There, he represented the Omicron Xi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and won the first prize of $600 in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.'s Eighth District Talent Hunt Program as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to Jacksonville, Florida, where he was awarded $1000. Ansar excels academically. He received a perfect SAT score. He plans to major in physics at Cornell University.

NH: Ian Soderberg is a piano student of Carleen Graff and is also a vocalist, and composer. He has performed in many piano festivals through the years and enjoyed eight summers at the Plymouth State University's Piano Monster Camp, often supported by a MusicLink camp scholarship. He performed vocally in All-State, Jazz All-State, All New England and All Eastern festivals for vocal performance. He has composed for high school ensembles and accompanies the choir as collaborative pianist. Ian plans to attend Ithaca College, studying music compositions. "I would like to thank the MusicLink organization for the piano they brought to my home four years ago. Thank you MusicLink, and Dr. Graff for opening the doors into such a wonderful world of opportunities."

OR: Jasnery Valenzuela, a student of Laura Jáuregui Wynter, is a graduating senior from Lincoln High School, born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She is the oldest of three and has a very supportive family. Jasnery has been playing the violin since she was five and a half, talking and singing even before that, and has enjoyed writing ever since the third grade. At school, she is an active student in the music program and participates in orchestra, percussion, and choir. She is a member of the student-run A Cappella group, Vivace. She also has played with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony since the 6th grade. After high school, Jasnery plans to go to Portland Community College and pursue a double major in English and Music. She wants to write and publish books of her own and eventually become an editor. Additionally, she wants to be a worship leader and a violin/music teacher to keep music in her life.

MN: Leah Williams has studied piano with Sally Ritchie for 14 years. She could read music before she could recognize the alphabet. Leah has participated in state competitions every year throughout middle and high school, receiving many first place awards. She is currently the leader of her worship band at church and will be going on a mission trip for her church for the fall semester and if possible, the spring semester as well. Her interests extend from music to drama and she plans to major in counseling or therapy in college. From her teacher: "Leah is an amazing young woman and has been a wonderful student who will be greatly missed by this piano teacher!"

VA: Connor Wood is a graduating senior at Maggie Walker Governor's School in Richmond. He has taken piano lessons with Gabriella Ryan for twelve years, reaching the level of advanced repertoire, including Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 in his senior recital. He was a recipient of a free piano through the MusicLink Foundation. He learned violin from Gabriella's daughter Kim, and organ from Larry Robinson. Connor was one of the top QuizBowl winners. He intends to major in Global Affairs at Yale University, but will always keep music with him, as there are symphonies, chamber groups, and opera companies to join. He is a stamp collector, and hopes to be a diplomat someday.