"Afton has been taking piano with me for several years and consistently shows a deep love for music. I love her determination, attention to detail, and willingness to be challenged every week. She is becoming a wonderful pianist and an overall excellent musician; I am incredibly proud of all her hard work and look forward to seeing her continue to grow!" — Ms. Gloria

​"I am very excited to be chosen as student of the month! I love playing piano and Ms. Gloria has made it an even better experience for me over the years. One of my favorite parts about learning piano has definitely been being able to play so many different types and varieties of music as well as performing in the friendship concerts. Ms. Gloria always lets me choose lots of the songs I play, and I love how much I am able to learn to become a better musician from her." — Afton B.

"Julia is a thoughtful and dedicated student whose diligence and musical curiosity continually inspire me. Working with her and exploring new repertoire together has been both joyful and refreshing. She has accomplished so much over the past year, not only completing the Musical Journey tests and projects, but also performing in Orpheus recitals and at her school’s own events. I am very proud of her and deeply grateful to witness her growth and blossoming artistry as a young pianist." — Ms. Faith

​“I’m very thankful that Ms Faith has chosen me for student of the month! She makes all of our lessons together fun and enjoyable while still teaching me so much. Sometimes it can be hard to practice on my own between school and other activities, but my weekly lessons with Ms. Faith remind me how much I enjoy piano. I’m looking forward to learning even more and continuing on my musical journey!” — Julia S.

"Audrey and I have been working together for three years now and it is such a pleasure to have her in my studio! She is a hard worker with beautiful musicality. Also, she diligently takes notes of all the details she needs to practice, which is why she sounds better and better every day. She is also playing first violin in our string ensemble. Keep up the good work, Audrey!" — Ms. Maria

​"Audrey has grown so much through learning how to play violin! She enjoys expressing emotions through the music as well as developing discipline for daily practice. She is excited about joining an ensemble for the first time as well as starting to learn vibrato. We are so thankful to Ms. Maria for her patience and guidance along the way!" — Audrey T.'s mom

"Liam has been such an outstanding student since the very beginning, and he continues to impress me every week. He has an incredible sense of humor, lots of determination, and huge love for music. It's really inspiring seeing such a young musician care tremendously about details like legato playing from such an early age. Great work, Liam. It's an honor to teach you, and I look forward to every lesson we have!" — Mr. Brendon

“Hi! I’m Liam and I’m so happy to be the December Student of the Month! I have a big passion for music, and playing guitar is my favorite because I love the sound and the rhythm. Every week I can’t wait to go to my class because I always learn something new. Guitar class with Mr. Brendon is the best part of my week — he’s the best teacher and he makes learning music really fun. He even calls me ‘Legato King.’ Thank you so much, Mr. Brendon, for teaching me, helping me, and for nominating me as Student of the Month. I’m really proud and really grateful!” — Liam A.

"Yauhenia is not only working on singing skills, she is also learning English! While focusing on pronunciation and tuneful singing, she has been courageous enough to perform in the Saturday Adult Impromptu. I am so very proud of her! Yauhenia has been an absolute joy to guide in her musical journey and she definitely deserves to be a Student of the Month!" — Ms. Deborah

​"Thank you so much for the nomination! I’m especially grateful to Ms. Deborah for her professionalism and patience—she works twice as hard with me, helping with both vocal technique and English pronunciation. Thank you for gently encouraging me to try performing in public; it’s always been my biggest fear, and your faith and support make it possible. I’m excited to keep setting new goals and growing at Orpheus." — Yauhenia L.

"Michelle and I have been working together for over almost a year, and during that time she has really grown as a singer and musician. In one Adult Impromptu she sang a musical theater piece, followed by a heavy metal song, and she did them both beautifully! It is so fascinating to me to see the process she undergoes to choose a song, interpret it in her own style, and make it completely her own. In addition to singing on her own, she has collaborated with many other students, spending time rehearsing with them outside of her lesson time, working carefully on harmony and style. It has been such a joy for me to be part of her journey, and watch her gaining confidence and having fun while she sings." — Ms. Rebecca

​"Thank you, I feel so honored for being nominated. Getting to learn and develop as a musician alongside fellow students and Ms. Rebecca has been a very rewarding journey. I look forward to continuing to explore my voice both technically and creatively—so I can sing healthily for years to come and paint expressive pictures through music." — Michelle H.

"Isha has been showing great improvement in her music studies! She has been dedicated and consistent, always coming to lessons well prepared with her assignments thoughtfully done. I’m proud of the progress she’s made and look forward to continuing this wonderful musical journey together!" — Mr. Daniel

​"Isha, as a toddler used to often sing and attempt to play some nursery rhymes on her toy piano on her own. We observed her interest growing further into the world of music as she became 5 years old and finally decided to start the formal musical journey at Orpheus Academy of Music, Cedar Park. We are so happy to see our girl enjoying learning what she loves and making so much progress since then through these last couple of years. She looks forward to her music lessons with Mr. Daniel every week, and we are so proud of her as well as so grateful to Mr. Daniel and everyone at Orpheus Academy. Thank you very much." — Isha’s parents

"Over the last year, I have seen Pranav show significant progress in his musicality and skills! It’s always a joy to work with him each lesson, and he brings a high level of curiosity and attention to detail to his playing. I was especially impressed with his level of dedication to learning more advanced repertoire to pass his Musical Journey level three test in the spring semester. I can’t wait to see the accomplishments that he will achieve during his time at Orpheus, and I look forward to working with him another year!" — Ms. Cicely

"​Orpheus Academy is Pranav's very first music school, and he has become a much more confident and expressive player during his time here. Ms. Cicely has always been an amazing supporter of Pranav and has challenged him to become the best version of himself. He is always motivated to practice and playing the piano has been a favorite pastime of his. Pranav is so thankful for the nomination by Ms. Cicely and is looking forward to having more fun at Orpheus Academy!" — Pranav’s parents

“This past school year, Martha has shown a renewed interest in her piano lessons, always prepared and playing the piano with energy and passion. She also collaborated with her friends, Surya and Eliana, playing piano duets, learning new skills, and having fun together.” — Mr. Mauricio

“What I love about music is that there are different types of music, how we play them, and the different instruments. I choose to play music because my sister plays violin and my dad plays piano. I wanna be just like them. The music in my house can be any type, but my personal favorite is 'We'll Meet Again' (Gravity Falls). I thank my dad, Mr. Mauricio, and everybody at Orpheus for letting me know that music is always there. Thank you for letting me be a student of the month!” — Martha N.

“I am happy to nominate Chloe for student of the month. She is a hard-working and talented piano student. Chloe has a positive, cheerful attitude and is always well-prepared for her lessons. She is making excellent progress in all aspects of piano playing—note reading, technique, and musical expression. Also, she is starting to work on music composition, and she performed her beautiful composition ("Silver Lake") in the Composer’s Showcase Recital in June. In addition, Chloe is an eager participant in most of the performance opportunities offered at Orpheus, and she is working hard on the Musical Journey Level 4 milestones. Bravo, Chloe!” — Ms. Ruth

“I am so honored to be an Orpheus student of the month! I love doing piano with Ms. Ruth. It is so fun, and I learn so much every time I go into a lesson.” — Chloe S.

“Havisha has been such a great addition to my studio since she joined Orpheus last year. She is inquisitive, hard working, and an all-around lovely person. She always comes full of joy and questions, and she is consistently ready to tackle hard things! I enjoy our lessons very much, and I’m excited to continue seeing her growth as a musician!” — Ms. Gloria

“Orpheus Academy and Ms. Gloria get all due credit for Havisha's piano journey over the last year. Despite Havisha having to adjust to a new city, Ms. Gloria was patient and supported Havisha in the transition between piano teaching styles. This helped Havisha reach a regular practice schedule with an emphasis on discipline. Havisha is happy and excited to continue learning and performing under the guidance of Ms. Gloria.” — Havisha's parents

“Over the past few months, I've watched Michael grow
tremendously—from being a nervous and shy beginner to a confident young musician who just made his Orpheus debut in our Summer Showcase. He brings a bright, positive energy to every lesson and always arrives eager to learn and take on new challenges. I’ve admired his thoughtfulness, his courage in asking questions when something isn’t clear, and his willingness to dive into the learning process with honesty and curiosity. Michael has also practiced diligently and even taken the initiative to teach himself new pieces. Teaching him has been a truly enjoyable experience, and I’d also like to thank his family for their unwavering support throughout his journey.” — Ms. Ziwei

"I have fun learning new songs in piano class. Thank you to Dr. Ziwei for teaching me." — Michael V.

"Lynn has shown remarkable growth as a pianist since joining my studio. She has performed in several Friendship Concerts, sharing a beautifully varied repertoire that includes works by Beethoven, Balakirev, Saint-Saëns, Ligeti, and McLean. It’s a joy to teach her each week—she approaches every challenge with determination and enthusiasm. Her sight-reading, musical expression, and technique have grown tremendously, and I couldn’t be prouder of all she has accomplished." — Ms. Yaci

"I’m so grateful for this nomination! Piano has been such a fun and exciting journey, and I’ve grown so much with Ms. Yaci. She always supports me, challenges me, and makes each lesson special—I’m really lucky to have her as my teacher." — Lynn H.

"Elena has studied with me since when she was 5. It's been a pleasure for me to teach her and make music together. She is always eager to learn new pieces and challenge herself, and she is willing to stretch her skills far beyond what is expected. She loves music and dedicates a significant amount of time every week towards high quality practice. She has done many performances and Musical Journey projects. Recently, she finished her Musical Journey level 5 solo concert and achieved her trophy. I am very proud of her hard work and can't wait to see all that she achieves in the future!!" — Ms. Jae-Eun

"I would like to thank Ms. Jae-Eun for helping me throughout my whole journey as a musician. She is always so kind, patient, and encouraging with me. She also gives me great feedback on how to improve the pieces that I am playing. I look forward to growing as a pianist with her!" — Elena W.

"Nivan has consistently demonstrated remarkable discipline and a profound passion for piano music. He recently embarked on his Music Journey level two and delivered a wonderful performance at the Friendship Concert. I also want to extend my gratitude to his parents for their unwavering support and love for music." — Mr. Leonardo

​"I am really happy to be named a Student of the Month. I have been at Orpheus for more than a year, and everyone here is so friendly. I really look forward to learning music every day. I love the concerts and really enjoy performing. Thank you for this special recognition!" — Nivan D.

"Nico is an absolute joy to teach and a true rising star at Orpheus! At just seven years old, he brings a beautiful blend of curiosity, discipline, and musicality to every lesson. Nico approaches each new piece with enthusiasm and a thoughtful attitude, always eager to learn and to celebrate his own growth. His natural musical ability shines through in everything he plays, and his focused determination is inspiring to witness. He has a bright energy that lights up the room—lessons with him are always fun, rewarding, and full of joy. I’m so proud of Nico and excited to watch him continue to grow as a violinist!" — Dr. Paula

"Nico really enjoys playing the violin, and his teachers have done a wonderful job of inspiring him. He is proud of his Musical Journey trophies and hopes to do more recitals." — Nico W.'s dad

"Gen is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is a curious, thoughtful, and committed student who works hard to grow every semester as a musician and guitarist. His sense of humor is wonderful, and I absolutely love every lesson I have with him.  He is a member of the Honors Guitar Quartet and makes me proud at every competition and performance. Gen represents Orpheus beautifully, and I am lucky to have him in my studio!" — Mr. Brendon

"I am really grateful for receiving this nomination from Mr. Brendon. Thanks to his amazing teaching, I have had a lot of fun learning from him and gaining a variety of new guitar skills. Also, being a guitar quartet team instructed by Mr. Klondike has helped me to get better at playing with other guitarists. I look forward to continuing even more fantastic lessons and also performing with the guitar quartet." — Gen M.​

"Allison always comes to class with a positive attitude and infectious energy to learn and develop her skills. When faced with challenges, she is patient and determined to succeed. She is quick to ask questions, and lessons with her are always enjoyable, productive, and filled with laughter.

Recently, Allison completed her level 3 project for Musical Journey, where she recorded an album with her favorite selection of pieces in varying styles. This spring, Allison will be working towards passing her Level 4 test! I can’t wait to see what Allison accomplishes this year as she transitions into a more ambitious repertoire!" — Ms. Cicely

"Allie has always loved music, and ever since she began piano in kindergarten, her love has grown. She has used all of the musical skills she's learned through Orpheus to advance at piano, learn trumpet, at the AISD Music Memory Competition, as well as in the Doss school musical when she sang as Willy Wonka.

​Allie has gained confidence in music theory, complex rhythms, and has been willing to try playing songs by ear on her own. It has been wonderful to watch her grow into a skilled and well rounded musician with the support of her kind and passionate teacher, Ms. Cicely, as well as all the other Orpheus teachers who have helped her along the way!" — Allison K.’s family

"Mariah is a great player who always goes above and beyond to learn new music, and she is always super enthusiastic to play guitar. In 2 years, she has gone from a total beginner to playing advanced classical guitar pieces!" — Mr. Andrew

"I am incredibly grateful to Andrew for sharing his passion for guitar, knowledge, and endless patience with me week after week. My lessons have been an immeasurable source of joy for the last two years and Andrew has made every new challenge achievable with his encouragement. I’ve had the best time learning every new piece and am so proud of all we’ve done together.

Playing guitar started as an experiment, but has grown into a daily habit and I’m a better learner and person for it. Go Professor Dewey! He’s a miracle worker!" — Mariah P.

"Parth has shown increased knowledge of piano skills and musical insight to improve his own playing. He has demonstrated excessive interest in all sorts of pieces and different methods with me on how to improve the music." — Mr. Cody

"I would like to thank Mr Cody from Orpheus for nominating me. He is a really good teacher and has helped me learn a lot of piano. I really look forward to learning more and more with him. Thank you for this award!" — Parth M.