Sowing Music

👋🏻 A slightly late hello for the new year… somehow it is already March 2026! 🫢

The past few months have been a special season for us as we moved to Kenmore from Indooroopilly and set up the teaching studio again. Some parts are still a work in progress, but thanks to the support and understanding of our amazing students and families, the transition has been smoother than expected. ❤️

Students have been enjoying the new learning space. There is more room to move around, and the acoustics allow us to hear the resonance and true sound of the piano more clearly.✨

The first term of 2026 has been fun and productive. I always enjoy this time of year when we set new goals, plan our focus for the year ahead, and explore new musical ideas and repertoire together. 🎶

Our little puppets and Lego people remain the most popular “teachers” in the room, probably even more attractive than me 😆 Some students have also been expressing their creativity through drawing, which helps them connect with their music in their own unique way. 🎨🎵

It has been a lovely start to the year and I look forward to all the music making ahead. 🎹

Love,
Ms Hilaria ☺️

All students have received their concert pack this week, including event information and tickets for their family. We’re so looking forward to seeing everyone again and celebrating this special day together. 🎶

🎹 Countdown: 6 days until our 2025 student concert! 🎶

🎶 Huge congratulations to all our students for their wonderful AMEB piano and theory exam achievements from late 2024 and early 2025, and for some recent remarkable milestones too! 🌟

Highlights include:
🎵 Grade 8 Piano for Leisure - A
🎵 Grade 6 Piano Repertoire - A+
🎵 Grade 5 Piano Repertoire - A
🎵 Grade 5 Piano Comprehensive - B
🎵 Grade 4 Music Theory - A
🎵 Grade 3 Piano for Leisure - A
🎵 Grade 3 Piano for Leisure - B
🎵 Grade 2 Piano for Leisure - A

Two students from this group have also received special achievement recently:

🎓 One of the Year 12 students has been accepted into the Bachelor of Music (Contemporary) at the Conservatorium.

🏆 Another student achieved 1st place in her school’s internal piano competition at St Peter’s!

🎶 I’m beyond proud of everyone, from first-time exam students to those taking on advanced grades, from performers participating in competitions to those inspired to pursue music at university. You’ve all grown so much, not just as musicians but as individuals. It’s been a real joy to watch how music continues to shape all your confidence, creativity, and dreams. Keep shining and let your music keep inspiring the world around you! 🌟😊

✨ Hello all, I’m back! The past seven months of maternity leave have been such a special time for my family and me. 🩷 I welcomed our second baby, celebrated my first Mother’s Day as a mum of two, homeschooled my preschooler, took the kids to the strawberry farm, Bluey’s World, beaches, and countless playgrounds, hosted friends from overseas, caught up with many old friends, attended a beautiful Indian wedding, judged a radio singing competition, joined a piano masterclass, and witnessed two of the most prestigious piano competitions, the Van Cliburn and the Chopin in the same year. They’re held only every four and five years respectively, so to experience both in one year was such a rare honour! I also attended a women’s conference and a church camp that recharged me in God’s word. 🙌🏻

It’s been a period of tremendous personal growth, as a woman, as a mother, and as a piano teacher. I’m grateful for this beautiful season and for the chance to return to what I love most: teaching and inspiring my students. I can’t wait to catch up with everyone and share new learning adventures! 💛🎵🎹

Love,
Ms Hilaria

🎹 Congratulations to all the winners and participants of the 2025 Van Cliburn Competition! What a magnificent two weeks of world-class piano music! I’m especially thrilled to witness Aristo Sham from my hometown, Hong Kong 🇭🇰, become the first to win such a major international title - one of the most prestigious piano competitions, held only once every four years.

He delivered a stunning performance of an extensive and demanding program, all while keeping it deeply engaging on both musical and emotional levels. Truly inspiring!

If you'd like to relive these incredible performances, visit the competition’s official YouTube channel to watch all the live recordings - with multi-angle views and synced scores:
https://m.youtube.com/

NANCY LEE AND PERRY R. BASS GOLD MEDAL

🥇 Aristo Sham, Hong Kong, China, 29

SILVER MEDAL

🥈 Vitaly Starikov, Israel/Russia, 30

BRONZE MEDAL

🥉 Evren Ozel, United States, 26

--

Beverley Taylor Smith Award for the Best Performance of a New Work

Yangrui Cai, China, 24

Best Performance of the Mozart Concerto Award

Evren Ozel, United States, 26

John Giordano Jury Chairman Discretionary Award

Mikhail Kambarov, Russia, 24

Raymond E. Buck Jury Discretionary Award

Jonas Aumiller, Germany, 26

Patricia and Neal Steffen Family Jury Discretionary Award

Alice Burla, Canada, 28

Carla and Kelly Thompson Audience Award

Aristo Sham, Hong Kong, China, 29

(📸 Ralph Lauer)

Thank you for having me again! 🎵 This might be my last mini project before the big one arrives 👶🏻!

This time, instead of bringing my digital piano, I came armed with my laptop 💻 - filled with research notes on music exam systems in Australia.🇦🇺

Did you know that besides the well-known AMEB, there are six other music exam boards in Australia recognized by QCAA? 🎼

Traditional exams aren’t for everyone, but with so many options and fresh approaches, music exams can be an exciting way to motivate students, boost their confidence, and spark creativity! ✨

🎙️ The interview was conducted in Cantonese, feel free to replay it or check out the exam board links in the shared post. And of course, if you have any questions, Ms Hilaria is happy to help! 😊

澳洲除了AMEB音樂考試,原來還有好多選擇，謝謝Hilaria 老師綜合分析各考試局的背景和特色🙏
以下是有關考試局的連結，供大家參考☺️節目內容請click 入
https://www.4eb.org.au/shows/durian-club-cantonese/
選15March 2025 11pm 節目重溫

AMEB - Australian Music Examinations Board
http://www.ameb.edu.au

ABRSM - Associated Board of the Royal School of Music
http://www.abrsm.org

Trinity Guildhall Examinations (Australia)
http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk

AGMS - Australian Guild of Music Education
https://www.agms.edu.au

ANZCA
MUSIC EXAMINATIONS
https://anzca.com.au

The St. Cecilia School of Music
https://st-cecilia.com.au

Con Brio Examinations Board
https://www.conbrioexams.com

It’s been a big week with 🇦🇺 Australia Day, the 📚start of the school year, and 🧧Lunar New Year celebrations! Hope everyone is settling into the new year well.✨

Before Term 1 began, Ms Hilaria attended a pedagogy workshop by AGMS (Australian Guild of Music & Speech - Music Exam Board), where the director, key AGMS members and local composers shared insights on teaching strategies, exam prep, and the new Piano Odyssey series. 🎵 It was inspiring to hear fresh ideas, reflect on different teaching approaches, and gain valuable insights directly from composers about their creative process and the challenges students might face when learning their pieces.

A big thank you to AGMS for such a valuable experience! 💙 Wishing all teachers and students a fantastic start to the year 2025! 💪🏻

✨Wishing you all a joyful and harmonious Christmas season, filled with love, laughter, and beautiful melodies! 🎄🎶

Thank you for being a cherished part of my musical journey. May our shared love and passion for music continue to grow and flourish in the year ahead. 💕

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🎉

Love,
Ms Hilaria ☺️