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We began TCYA in 1990 as a way to bring outstanding performing pianists and teachers to Plano to teach the many gifted young pianists in our area, providing the very best faculty possible. We also wanted to provide a sense of community for our students, who are often isolated because of the very nature of piano study, and who need to meet other kids sharing the same interests.

Our program has no paid staff. All positions are voluntary, down to the parents who provide refreshments following concerts. We have been very fortunate to have found many passionate music lovers who have been willing to help our exciting endeavor.

Over the last 18 years, we have presented many internationally acclaimed pianists such as Leon Fleisher, Stephen Hough, Marc-Andre Hamelin, Paul Lewis, Stephen Osborne, and teachers from many major music schools such as Bryce Morrison (Royal Academy of Music, London), Joan Havill (Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London), Yoheved Kaplinsky (Chair of the Piano Department at the Juilliard School), Julian Martin (Juilliard School), and Marc Durand (University of Montreal).

It would not have been possible to attract and maintain such an outstanding faculty without the extremely high level of piano performance by our students. Twenty-one are chosen each year by taped audition, and range in age from 11 to 18. They perform difficult pieces in recital and in master classes for our faculty throughout the week. One of the highlights of our program is the concerto evening at which selected students perform movements of piano concertos with the Plano Symphony Orchestra, without the benefit of a rehearsal. This is our most popular concert, and is always packed. It is also free of charge. TCYA students have been very successful in local, state, and national competitions. Recordings of their performances are often sent in along with their college applications, proving a major influence in their acceptance to such schools as Harvard, Yale, and MIT.

Although some of our students go on to become professional musicians, our hope is that the experience at TCYA will help all our students become future supporters of the arts, and champions of classical music throughout their lives.

It has been extremely gratifying to see the progress, maturity, and success achieved by the many students who have attended TCYA over the years. On a personal level, having the many great musicians come to teach and perform for TCYA has had a very stimulating effect, improving not only our teaching, but in raising the level and appreciation of classical piano music in the metroplex.