Hi, my name is Alex, and I'm 11 years old. I am going into sixth grade at Auten Road Intermediate School in Hillsborough. I learned how to read music and recognize notes on the keyboard at age three. I started taking lessons at the age of five, and joined Mrs. Clarfield's studio in November 2022. Under Mrs. C’s guidance I have grown so much over the past three years, and I am so grateful to be part of her amazing studio family. This year, I won several awards, including the Special Judge’s Award (for piano duet with Cassia) and the Gold Prize (for piano solo) in the National League of Performing Arts competition; and Honorable Mention (for piano solo) and Second Place (for piano duet with Cassia) in the NJMTA Young Musicians Competition. Besides piano, my biggest passion is playing contract bridge. This summer, I represented the USA in the Under 16 Team at the World Youth Bridge Teams Championships in Salsomaggiore, Italy, where we won the Silver Medal. I also enjoy reading, playing chess, and learning math in my free time. By the way, if anyone plays bridge please let me know!