Junior Piano Concerto Competition: 2nd Place

Nadia Azzi is 11 years old, and a 6th grade student at The Center for the Gifted Studies Magnet Program housed at Dunedin Highland Middle School in Dunedin, FL. Nadia discovered her passion for music at an early age. She began playing the piano at the age of five with Mrs. Kinuyo Engelbrecht.

She has become the winner of numerous FFMC and FSMT A piano competitions in county, district, and state levels. Such achievements include being winner at 2009 FFMC Piano Concerto Junior II-B State Competition, at 2009 FSMT A District Concerto Competition in the Junior category, winner at 2007 FSMT A District Concerto Competition in the Elementary category, at bi-annual Junior Artist Scholarship Competition held by UPMT A in Category I in 2007 and in Category II in 2009, and so on.

She also enjoys playing the violin at Pinellas Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the harpsichord at Serenade Strings. She has become a concert master in the 2009-2010 All County Middle School Orchestra.

Besides her music interests, she has excelled at many area of studies. She maintains the highest grade average in her grade, and has won several awards such as 2009 Math P.R.I.D.E. Award, Award of Excellence in Odysseys and Expeditions at the Arts Center in St. Petersburg, FL, and 2nd• place in 2010 NHD Contest offered at her school.

She is fluent in Japanese and English. She has attended Japanese pre-schools, and elementary schools for 2 months every early summer since she was 3 years old. She received a bronze award in 2009 Fukui Prefecture Japanese Calligraphy Competition.

She also loves reading, swimming, drawing, and listening to music. She enjoys every second of her piano and violin practices.