Ella Karasik Piano Studio

08/31/2026

What a summer for our piano studio! 🎹🏆

Our students worked hard all summer - and the results were incredible!

🌟 Khloe W. was one of the youngest pianists competing for the State title in June, earning 3rd Place. Just two months later, she returned to the stage and won the Absolute Grand Prize at the International Stars of Summer Competition! What determination!

🏆 Grand Prize runners-up:
🎹 Spencer Z.
🎹 Emma L.
🎹 Jason Z.

🥇 Michael X. won 1st Place in his age category!

Our 11-year-old Spencer Z. was also invited to perform works by F. Chopin and S. Rachmaninoff for a sold-out audience at the Gala in the Italian Garden - and brought the house down!

We closed the summer with a beautiful, bittersweet recital honoring our graduating seniors. Students ages 4-18 performed alongside them as we celebrated their years of music and wished them well on their next adventures.

So proud of every one of our students - and excited for another year of beautiful music ahead! 🎶

04/28/2026

I’m absolutely overjoyed by the fantastic victory at the OhioMTA State Buckeye Piano Competition by Khloe W.! 🌟 As the youngest among the contestants, she delivered an incredible performance that truly stood out.

I wasn’t able to attend the competition, but when I asked a colleague who won, she said, “the little virtuoso in the taffeta dress.” And I instantly knew it was Khloe, even before she did! (She had already left after her performance, not waiting for the judges’ deliberations.)

Amazing Khloe, amazing repertoire, and a well-deserved victory! 🎶👏

Next up: a couple more high-stakes competitions, a performance at Carnegie Hall, and then she’ll represent the district at the State competition. So proud and excited for what’s ahead!

01/21/2026

🎹 Memories…

Every note tells a story, and this moment captures one that will always stay with us. From first performances to big moments of growth, we’re so grateful for every student who has filled this studio with music, dedication, and joy. 💛

In this video, Allison Kao and Elizabeth Ye play Valse from Arensky Suite No. 1 for Two Pianos, Op. 15.

12/18/2025

Hello New York — here we come (again)! 🎶

Huge congratulations to Spencer Z., Khloe W., and Alex Z. on their wins at the American Protégé Competition! We are incredibly proud of your outstanding performances of works by Rachmaninoff, Chopin, and Prokofiev.

A very special hooray for Spencer Z. — selected as “the one” from hundreds of competitors! What an extraordinary achievement.

We also celebrate Ethan D., who earned Gold at the American Classical Music Awards, and Aaron Z., who took home Silver — bravo to both!

So proud of all of you, and we can’t wait to share even more great news soon. 🎹✨

08/25/2025

🌞🎹 Where did the summer go?! It flew by—but what a summer it was! Taiwan brought the heat (and a few typhoons along the way), and our pianists brought even more excitement.

✨ Huge congratulations to Gryffin for winning 1st place (!!) and Lukas for taking 2nd place (!!) in their age categories at the 2025 Taiwan Piano Competition. The level of talent was incredible, with “trimmed mean” judging across 7 judges—an amazing achievement! We could not be prouder.

🎶 Our high school pianists kept the winning streak alive: Ethan D. and Aaron Z. both won top prizes at competitions in London and Berlin. They’ve stepped up beautifully into leadership roles within our studio, carrying on the tradition of excellence.

💐 We also celebrated a bittersweet farewell to Benjamin W., who is off to pursue an engineering degree in Toronto. His unforgettable performance of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Concerto at our goodbye concert will stay with us always. What a sendoff!

Here’s to the joy of learning, growing, and making music together. What a summer!!! 🎶❤️

04/07/2025

🎶🌸 Our musical spring started on a high note! 🌸🎶

My young heroes—Gryffin W. and Spencer Z.—have made us all so proud! At the prestigious Graves State Competition in Columbus, Gryffin and Spencer earned 2nd and 3rd place! Their younger siblings, Lukas W. and Alex Z., bravely ventured into “deep waters,” and the judges responded with glowing praise for their musical maturity. Only four spots were awarded among 30 of the most talented kids in the state—and two of them came from our studio!

🌟 The excitement continued with the NFMC Festival, where every one of our students earned a Superior rating! What a wonderful reflection of their dedication and hard work! 🌟

🎹 And on April 5th, the Buckeye District Competition brought even more fantastic results:
🏆 Winner (Elementary Level): Gryffin W.
🥈 Alternate: Spencer Z.
🎖️ Honorable Mention (Elementary Level): Khloe W.
🎖️ Honorable Mention (Senior Level): Ethan C.

Gryffin will now go on to represent our district in the upcoming State Competition this June—we'll be cheering him on all the way! 🎉

Could not be prouder of these hardworking young musicians—their courage, artistry, and passion continue to inspire! 💫

11/04/2024

🎉 Exciting news from our piano studio! 🎉

A huge congratulations to our talented students on their incredible achievements:

🎹 Ethan C. took first place at the Pan American Music Competition! He had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City this October!

🎼 Amy Z. won first prize at the Bach International Music Competition!

We're off to an amazing start for the 2024-2025 school year, and we're so proud of our students' hard work and accomplishments!

Looking forward to more music and milestones ahead. 🌟

08/21/2024

🎉 Exciting news from our studio at the Stars of Summer International Competition! We are thrilled to announce that Gryffin W. is this year's Grand Prix Winner! 🌟 We're incredibly proud of his achievement!

A huge congratulations to our 1st Place winners as well: Lukas W., Sarah Z., Jason Z., Aaron Z., Emma H., Emma L., and Evelyn Y. 👏 Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off!

Fun fact: This marks the second year in a row that our studio has captured the Grand Prix! Last year, Spencer Z. set the tradition, and we're continuing the legacy of excellence! 🌟

We're eagerly looking forward to the Laureates Concert on August 25th, where Gryffin, Aaron, and Emma L. will perform with the orchestra! 🎻🎶

05/02/2024