Conservatory student pays it forward

A sincere thank you goes out to the Greenway family for their recent contribution to our Wish Tree!

When Julie Greenway saw the Patel Conservatory’s Wish Tree in our TECO Lobby, she asked her daughter Amanda to pick an ornament to donate.

Amanda could have chosen anything from whiteboard markers to an iTunes gift card, but she picked one of the biggest items on the tree, a large star marked with a $250 scholarship.

“I wanted to give the most that I could,” said Amanda, who has taken classes in the Conservatory’s ballet program and now takes piano lessons with Jill Sentif.

“It’s good to give back,” she said.

Amanda said she appreciates the Conservatory’s facilities and instructors and wanted to help others enjoy the same opportunities she’s had.

Thanks, Amanda!

All donations for our Scholarship Stars directly supports students in our classrooms. The Conservatory awards more than $200,000 a year in scholarships and financial aid thanks to the generous support of individuals, foundations and businesses.

Be sure to visit our Wish Tree in TECO Lobby and see how you can give back to the Conservatory this holiday season!

Spotlight on Parker Wilkson

Parker Wilkson, right, performing with his Rock School band Wasted Youth
at a Rock School Blowout Concert.

From classical to rock to jazz, pianist Parker Wilkson is doing it all.

One day, he's jamming on the keyboards playing a cover of Creep by Radiohead. The next day, he goes from improvising on the piano to Miles Davis’ Freddie Freeloader with his jazz ensemble, to creating a sinister mood with the dark, classical score of a live theater production.

Regardless of the genre, “When I play music, I feel such a strong connection to it,” said Parker.

This Patel Conservatory music student recently got his first professional gig accompanying for Jobsite Theater’s production of Gorey Stories opening this Wednesday.

Although Gorey Stories is his first professional role, he's got a résumé of accomplishments. Oh, and he's only 14.

The Classics to Coldplay

Parker started piano lessons when he was three years old. He learned the classics and did well at competitions. But his own voice began emerging when he was ten years old and he improvised on a Chopin piece he was working on for a competition.

“His coach told him it was really good, but not to do that at the competition,” said James Wilkson, Parker’s dad.

Parker performed his version of Chopin at the competition anyway, and received a perfect score from the judges, according to his dad.

“He had a lot more wisdom about what he wanted than any of us. About that time, he started playing everything from classical to Coldplay,” said James.

Parker was born in the Tampa area, and moved with his family to Idaho, then moved back to Land O’ Lakes two years ago. He began accompanying for his middle school choir, where he was noticed by a theater teacher and asked to accompany for a high school production of Grease, then another production, West Side Story.

Friends suggested he come to the Patel Conservatory for Rock School, which he did, and it’s been a domino effect ever since.

He was chosen to work with the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra for the Spotlight Awards; he had the opportunity to play before the Florida Orchestra at Raymond James Stadium; he accompanied for PCYT’s summer production of Normal, the Musical, and from that was asked to do Gorey Stories. He’s also in two Rock School bands and the Patel Conservatory Jazz Quartet, and he takes voice lessons.

James’ dad said that they owe a great deal to the Conservatory not only for the opportunities Parker’s gotten, but for the friends they’ve made.

“In addition to the opportunity, experience and exposure he’s gotten through the Conservatory, he gets to meet other people who think like him,” said James.

Expressing Himself through Music

Parker was recently chosen, along with fellow Rock School band member Matthew Sichterman, as the recipient of a scholarship underwritten by the Gasparilla Music Festival.

As the recipients of those scholarships, the two boys will get the opportunity to work behind-the-scenes with the festival in the spring and get some backstage privileges.

“They’re here all the time and they’re involved in so many different things that they were deserving recipients,” said Dee Lynch, Patel Conservatory’s staff accompanist.

With two different performances for the upcoming Rock School Blowout, performances with the Jazz Quartet and a three-week run of Gorey Stories, how does he keep up with it all?

“It was difficult at first going from Rock School to Gorey Stories, transitioning from different genres. But Patel’s taught me how to play so many different styles of music, it’s gotten a little easier,” said Parker. “I enjoy learning all the music, especially this play (Gorey Stories), it’s a unique sound.”

He says that working with his instructors in both Rock School and the Jazz Quartet, where he’s learning a lot about improv, has taught him more than various styles of music.

“When I first joined (the Conservatory), I was a little uptight, a little nervous about showing emotion. I’ve gotten more comfortable with myself, and become a much better musician overall,” said Parker. “Patel’s really taught me how to express myself through music.”

You can hear this up-and-coming talent at the following performances:

Jobsite Theater’s Gorey Stories, playing at the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center, Oct. 24 through Nov. 18, 2012.

Rock School Blowout at the Jaeb Theater at the Straz Center, Dec. 1, 2012, at 1 p.m.

Piano students compete at state convention

Congratulations to the Pfingsten family who have three children going to the state 2012 Florida Federation of Music Clubs Junior Convention this weekend.

Patel Conservatory piano students Abigale, 13, John, 12, and Samuel Pfingsten, 8, participated in the district auditions of the National Federation of Music Clubs in Tampa in February. All received superior ratings from judges on their performances in all categories (piano solo, piano duet and piano concerto), which qualified them to move on to the state convention.

“I’m so proud to hear the judge’s feedback on how well they played,” said their piano instructor John Hernandez.

Abigale and John have been taking private lessons with Hernandez at the Conservatory for nearly three years, and Samuel began lessons six months ago.

Abigale performed solo pieces by Mary Leaf and Albert Pieczonka, of which the judges commented she had “fantastic technique,” said Hernandez. She also played a Mozart concerto.

John, who won last year's Tampa's Got Talent, performed solo pieces by Claudette Hudelson and Sergei Prokofiev, which, according one judge's comments, were "masterfully played." He also performed a concerto by Haydn

“A concerto has a lot of demands, technically and musically...The judges were impressed by the maturity level of their playing for their age,” said Hernandez. 

Samuel Pfingsten performed solo pieces by Rebecca Lewis and Judy E. Wells.

“Sam is very controlled for his age,” said Hernandez. “The kids work really hard, that really helps. And it motivates me as a teacher.”

Abigale and John also performed a duet by M. Mier and O. Respighi. This weekend, Hernandez will be accompanying them on their concertos.


"One of the good things about moving on is that they will get to perform with the best students from around the state," said Hernandez.

Best wishes to these students as they compete at the state competition this weekend, May 4 and 5, 2012 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville!

Patel Conservatory welcomes new piano instructor

The Patel Conservatory welcomes piano instructor Joshua Sawicki to our faculty. 

Sawicki, left, with the USF President's Trio.

Sawicki recently returned from the Chautauqua Musical Festival in New York.

“It was seven weeks of intense classes and performances,” said Sawicki. “I’ve attended three summers. I go back each year because they’ve been really eye opening in learning about myself as a pianist and as a person.”

At the festival, Sawicki has had the opportunity to study with Rebecca Penneys, professor at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.

“She’s one of the most amazing educators I’ve ever known. She opens all these doors in your mind,” said Sawicki. “She showed me that every student learns differently, and you have to teach in every kind of way.”

Sawicki explains that teaching piano is all about understanding each student and what will work well for him/her. From music selection to recognizing the student’s threshold for comprehension, every choice is a delicate balance in helping a student feel equally challenged and successful.

“You have to make careful choices from moment to moment and week to week that will open up new doors they didn’t know were there,” said Sawicki.

Sawicki has been playing piano since he was four years old. He recalls the defining moment when he decided to pursue music as a career.

“When I played Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin with my high school symphony orchestra, it was a great moment for me. I got a standing ovation both nights,” said Sawicki.

He was born in New Britain, CT and grew up just outside of Hartford. He graduated from Boston University with a B.M in Piano Performance, and he spent a year at the London Royal College of Music where he studied the Alexander Technique, a method study for performers in understanding body movement as it pertains to their craft.

Sawicki is currently working on his master’s degree at USF, where he also teaches a Piano Ensemble class and is a member of the President’s Trio, a piano trio whose members receive scholarships and stipends funded by the USF president.

One of the most common questions he gets from parents is, How much should my child practice piano?

“Piano practice is like working out your muscles,” he said. “It’s better to do small amounts every single day rather than an hour one or two days a week. When you break it into smaller chunks every day, the music is always simmering in the back of your brain.”

For more information on private piano lessons at the Patel Conservatory in Tampa, please call 222-1273, or email music@strazcenter.org.

Piano students participate in Piano Guild Auditions

Congratulations goes out to four of our music students!


Four piano students at the Patel Conservatory recently participated in the National Piano Guild Auditions in Tampa. The auditions provided the students with an opportunity to perform in front of a judge and get feedback.

“Having a performance gives students a goal to work towards. It gives them an incentive to practice more,” said Melo Pfingsten, of Town N’ Country. Her children John Pfingsten, 10, and Abigale Pfingsten, 11, both participated in the auditions.

“As a piano teacher, I like to encourage my students to participate in recitals, workshops and competitions, as well as partake in other artistic activities that could benefit their musical growth,” said piano instructor John Hernandez.

John Pfingsten performed music by Beethoven, Biehl, Agay and Klose in the elementary level. Abigale participated in the intermediate level, performing music by Bach, Kuhlau, Kabalevsky and Hartsell.

According to Hernandez, the judge said of Abigale’s performance, “Bach's polonaise was very elegant and dance-like. Kabalevsky had an excellent tempo, sense of meter, phrasing and articulation.”

This was Abigale’s third year participating in the Piano Guild auditions, including twice as a piano student in North Carolina.

“The first year was a little nerve-racking, but now it is easier because I know what to expect,” said Abigale. “I would encourage anyone who plays the piano to do the Guild auditions because it challenges you, and it gives you someone else’s opinion on how you play, not just your teacher.”

Abigale began at the Patel Conservatory last year with piano lessons and has enjoyed her experience so much that she's since signed up for theater and ballet classes.

In addition to John and Abigale, Ethan Lee, 8, participated in the Piano Guild auditions in the intermediate level, performing music by Bach, Beethoven, and Gliere, and Dianne Lee, 12, participated in the preparatory (advanced) level, performing music by Mendelssohn, Khachaturian, and Debussy.

These students also participated in The National Federation of Music Clubs event this past February.

“I was very proud of my students for their performances and their commitment to learning,” said Hernandez. “We all look forward to more opportunities to continue making music."