2025 Student Honors Recital

Student Honors Recital
Friday, October 24th, 2025 ~ 7:00 pm
​
Fanfare by Joaquín Turina
Lucy Halulko
 
Clowns by Joaquín Turina
Lydia Halulko
 
Minuet op. 1, no. 1 by Alexander Reinagle
Andrea Tamayo
 
Concert Sonatina, mvt. 3: Presto by Nancy Faber
Amelia Tamayo
 
Seaside Retreat by Wendy Stevens
Ava Tamayo
 
Gold Doubloons by Martha Mier
Carlee Graziano
 
Intrepid by Chrissy Ricker
Carlee & Camden Graziano
 
Woman and Child on the Balcony by Catherine Rollin
Kaleena Feng
 
Japanese Serenade by Donald Waxman
Touch a Rainbow by Dennis Alexander
Nicole Wang
 
Pumpkin Smash by Chrissy Ricker
Presli Tacti & Nadia Musta
 
Fairy Dust by Wendi Stevens
Presli Tacti
 
Valse Parisienne by Glenda Austin
Für Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven
Amatista Wunder
 
Sonatina in A Minor by Georg Anton Benda
Polonaise in G Minor by Frédéric Chopin
Skylinn Vaughn
          
Sonatina in A Minor by George Frideric Handel
Levon Siloyan
 
Sonata op. 10 no. 1, mvt. 3: Prestissimo by Ludwig van Beethoven
Hungarian op. 39, no. 12 by Edward MacDowell
Daniel Penaherrera 
      
Nocturne in E-Flat Major op. 9, no. 2 by Frédéric Chopin
Nathan Alcudia
 
 
Piano Concerto in B-Flat Major, mvt. 3: Rondo, Molto Allegro..................................... Ludwig van Beethoven
Izel Gómez-Calderón, winner State Jr. Piano Concerto 2025
​Accompanist: Mary Watanabe McKee
 
Etude op. 28, no.6 by Ernó Dohnányi
Sonata op.26, mvt. 4: Fuga by Samuel Barber
Hanting Peng, winner Gray Perry Young Collegiate Piano Award 2025
​ Lucy Halulko is a student of Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe and lives in Yulee, Florida. She is thirteen years old and she is in eighth grade. Lucy is home schooled, and she spends most of her time reading and playing the piano. She has played for the National Guild Auditions for two years and did a National Program this year. She gives back to her community by playing at her church. She likes playing duets with her identical twin sister and performing together for a local retirement community. She has also played for the Proton Therapy Center recital and other local recitals. Lucy and her sister own a pet business in their neighborhood, and she enjoys embroidery and needlepoint. She has learned and mastered songs from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary eras. Lucy is planning to major in piano performance and pursue a music career.
​Lydia Halulko is a student of Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe, and lives in Yulee, Florida. She is thirteen years old, in eighth grade and is homeschooled. She is planning to pursue a career in piano performance. Lydia has attended National Guild Auditions for two years and performed a National Program this year. She likes to give back to the community by sharing her music at her church as well as a local retirement community. She was also selected to perform for the Proton Therapy Center recital in Jacksonville, Florida. Lydia has learned and perfected many pieces of numerous styles including Classical, Romantic, Contemporary and Jazz. She loves spending free time doing embroidery, quilting and reading. She also enjoys playing duets and owning her local pet business with her identical twin sister.
​ Andrea Tamayo attends the Palmer Catholic Academy. She is a fifth grader and loves school. She sings in her school choir, and she loves art. She loves to travel to foreign countries. Her family. is very supportive of her. She has four talented sisters. She loves to play outside and loves going to the beach. ​Andrea attends the Morris Music Academy and is a student of Ms. Cheryl.
​Amelia Tamayo attends Palmer Catholic Academy. She is an eighth grader and loves school. Amelia is in the senior choir at her school, and she loves drama and musical theater. Amelia loves to travel to many different places near and far. Her family is very supportive of her. She also has 4 talented sisters. She loves learning about science and lives in Jacksonville Beach. She loves ballet. ​Amelia attends the Morris Music Academy and is a student of Ms. Cheryl.
​Ava Tamayo attends Bishop Kenny High school. She is a senior who loves the theater and all musicals, especially Broadway musicals and has been in a few school productions. The highlight of her piano experience is playing for family and friends. Ava likes to play classical music that she has learned in her lessons and really loves playing pop music on her own. ​Ava attends the Morris Music Academy and is a student of Ms. Cheryl.
​Carlee Graziano attends Cornerstone Classical Academy. She is a fourth grader. Carlee loves to play tennis and goes to Bible Believers Baptist Church and sings in the choir. She loves drama and plays. She loves to climb. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida. She loves the ballet too.
​Camden Graziano attends Cornerstone Classical Academy. He is a sixth grader. Camden loves the safety patrol. His favorite subjects are history and art. He won the school art show in school year 2024. He loves to swim and play tennis. He loves to sing in the choir at his church. He is a scholarly student and loves to learn.
​ My name is Kaleena Feng, and I’m an upcoming junior in high school. I’m trilingual in Spanish, Chinese, and Fuzhounese, which has helped me connect with people from different backgrounds. At school, I serve as President of the Oakleaf Christian Club, Secretary of the Spanish Honor Society, and Secretary of the Peer Tutoring Club. These roles have given me the opportunity to support my peers while growing in my faith and academics. Outside of school, I’ve been playing piano for 11 years and currently play for my church’s youth group. One of my achievements was winning 1st place at the state level for piano at a Spanish convention. I’m also a black belt in karate, which has taught me discipline and perseverance. Through everything I do and participate in, I am passionate in serving others and making a positive impact on my community.
​Hi! My name is Nicole Wang, I am a freshman who is currently attending Oakleaf High School. I have a dedication and compassion for music and for the past three years I have been learning to play the piano with my teacher, Mrs. Stefonie. I'm always striving to hone my skills through practice and performance, but beyond just being a pianist, I am deeply committed to serving my community. I actively participate in my school's FFA chapter, contributing to promote activities that support agricultural awareness and community development. As I continue to learn and grow, I remain committed to using my talents and passions to make a lasting difference in our community.
​Nadia Musta attends River City Science Academy. She is sixth grader. Nadia is talented in visual arts. Nadia is on the volleyball team at her school. Nadia has taken one and a half years of piano. Nadia is on the AB honor roll. Nadia has a great support team in her parents. Nadia loves to travel.
​Presli Tacti attends Liberty Pines academy. She is a fourth grader. Presli loves to play soccer and is on the team for Florida Elite. Presli takes hip hop class and loves it. Presli has a great support team in her parents and grandparents.
​Hello, my name is Amatista Aparcana Wunder (Amy). I live in Jacksonville, Florida. My parents are Peruvian and American. I was born in March 2015. “Amatista” is Spanish for Amethyst, which, in Peru, also signifies “prosperity and good luck”. I lived in Chile and Peru my first 4 years.  My parents enrolled me in a piano class when I was 4 - my first introduction to piano! We moved back to the US in 2018; however, I did not begin serious piano lessons until two years ago. Dr. Sandra Stewart has been my teacher since January 2024. I also participate in dance classes.  My dream is to be both a classical pianist and a dancer, and I know I have a long road ahead to achieve those dreams! I have participated in local piano and dance recitals and even played piano pieces at a large resort in Cancun, Mexico.
Meet Skylynn Vaughn, a remarkable 12-year-old who began her musical journey at age 3 in Nashville, Tennessee. She has participated in Student Day, receiving honors for the past two years. Skylynn enriched her craft by attending a master class with renowned pianist Stephen Spooner at Stetson University, deepening her musical perspective. Skylynn is currently enrolled at the St. Augustine Piano Academy, where she is under the expert guidance of Dr. Mimi Zhang.

Beyond music, Skylynn is a compassionate community member. She enjoys volunteering for local non-profits and serves as a Teen Advisory Board Member at the St. Johns County Public Library. Her favorite composers are Christopher Larkin, Franz Liszt, and Jordan Rudess who inspire her expressive performances. When not focusing on her musical endeavors, she immerses herself in creating art, voraciously reading, and writing graphic novels. Skylynn also loves taking care of her dog, Bit, cat, Chai, and gecko, Toshi. Skylynn blends creativity, dedication, and heart in all she does.
Levon Siloyan is 7th grader at Landrum Middle School. He started regular piano lessons with Ms. Kamila Shahtakhtinski at age of 10 and in the two past years made a big progress from very early beginner to a confident and very expressive late intermediate pianist. In the past two years Levon successfully participated in two NFMC St. John’s District Festivals in Piano Solo and Piano Concerto Events with “superior” ratings, two FSMTA District IV Sonatina-Sonata Festivals, numerous JMTA recitals. Besides his regular piano studies Levon loves to compose and improvise. His compositions mature as his piano technique is improving. In his busy life Levon also excels at balancing music, homework, and a rigorous travel baseball schedule, which he has been part of since age of 6. Outside of sports and music, Levon’s hobbies include coin collecting and ever-growing fascination with cars and engines.
​Daniel Penaherrera was born in Warsaw, Indiana and started his piano studies with Ms. Paula Popenfoose at age 6. After moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana, he continued piano lessons with Mr. Evan Keenan. At age of 11, Daniel moved to Florida and continued his piano studies with Ms. Kamila Shahtakhtinski. Daniel is a Senior at DASOTA /Jacksonville/ with specialty in piano and electronic music composition. Some of his achievements and awards in piano performance include 2022 and 2025 NFMC Festival Gold Cups, 2024 Winner of DASOTA Sonata Marathon (Junior), Winner of VD-II Piano Solo at 2025 FFMC State Junior Convention, Honorable Mention at 2025 FSMTA Hebda Senior Piano Solo Competition. In addition to Daniel's piano academic studies, he has been composing electronic music using Ableton and other resources. As a piano composer, Daniel recently won a Second Place in the 2025 RHFA International Music Competition.
​Nathan Alcudia: I was born in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Jacksonville at the age of 4. I graduated from Fleming Island High School with an AICE Diploma. In my free time, I like to go to the gym, play the piano and play video games. I have played the piano since I was 8 years old for a total of about 10 years. I enjoy playing a range of repertoire, with Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, and Debussy being my favorite composers. I have also been involved with the Music Ministry at St. Luke’s Catholic Church throughout my time as a high school student. Playing for the church has helped me build my creativity and skill as a piano student. I am currently enrolled in the University of Florida’s School of Music and am pursuing a Bachelor’s of Music specific to Piano Performance.
Izel Gómez-Calderón started playing the piano at the age of two by discovering lullabies melodies he sang with his mother. By the age of four he started taking formal lessons with M.M Ludmila Melzer. When he was 7 years old, he also started receiving piano lessons with Dr. Alexander Sklioutovsky. Izel started participating at international competitions at the age of 4 and has won several ones. He moved to the USA in 2022 and receives piano lessons with his mentor Dr. Yun-Ling Hsu since March of 2023. He has participated in local and state competitions since then and has won 2024 NFMC Florida State Piano Concerto Winner (Jr III-B) and Vi Kinsman Memorial Endowed Award. Izel got the Alternate Winner of 2024 MTNA Florida State Junior Piano Performance. Izel enjoys reading, watching movies, cooking and playing outdoors.
​Hanting Peng, male, 19 years old, born in Shanghai, China. Hanting Peng studied piano at 5 years old. In 2014, he entered Shanghai Conservatory affiliated middle school. In 2024, he entered Lynn University. Now he is a first-year undergraduate student in Lynn University.