My name is Jolene Zhao, and I am 12 years old. My current teacher is Lang-Ning Liu who is a professor at The Royal Conservatory Of Music. My current school is Branksome Hall, an IB school for girls in Toronto. I love music a lot and started piano when I was only two years and eight months, and I have been playing piano ever since. Before my current teacher, I was studying with Lydia Wong, a piano head and professor at University of Toronto. My first piano teacher is a well known Russian pianist Larisa Newsberg, and I was the first of youngest students she took in ever when I was two years. I have earned lots of awards at National Competitions such as CMC and OMNI. The first time that I participated in the CMC competition, I was 6 years old. Also, I’m so proud and thankful I’ve been accepted to the PYPA (Philadelphia Young artists Academy) for summer camp this year. I learned that there are so many world class pianists and masterclasses. I have improved a lot from learning from my peers and also the professors. This has helped me enhance my emotional skills and technical skills from the very helpful tips. I am currently studying at the Taylor Academy of Music in RCM, which is a program for gifted young musicians. I joined Taylor Academy last year. I really enjoy being in this program, being surrounded by musicians who are very musical, talented, and caring. Through Taylor Academy, I have learned a lot of different skills, which is making me a better pianist and strengthening me in different areas of music. I really enjoy the piano because I think that it really helps me express myself as well as my emotions. Other than piano, I have many other interests as well, such as drawing, reading, and playing sports, etc. I love playing basketball and volleyball in my spare time, and I am currently on the basketball team in my school. I love reading, because it really brings me into a completely different world, and makes my imagination bloom.