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Dancing Fingers— Le Petit Star to perform

PETESA UTA—  Small, tiny and fragile are words one uses to describe her. During her first piano recital, the audience had to sit up because she looked so small on stage. To this day, her feet dangled lifelessly below the piano bench. Yet with confidence and agility she could control a massive 88-key concert piano with her small fingers.

 

Everyone wanted to take her home after she performed “Ballade Pour Adeline,” at the Department of Education’s Summit last year. And this Thursday, she will perform Mozart’s Sonata III, K545, First Movement. ‘Anyone who has performed this piece knows that tempo is important. The first movement is allegro; I had to be very careful when I worked with Angela because her fingers were so small,’ said Poe Mageo, Angela’s very first piano teacher.

 

‘Sometimes I had to literally lift her up so she could sit comfortably on the piano bench; at the same time I prayed that she would grow fast so that her feet could reach the pedals.’

 

Angela Chen is an exceptional student. 

 

After a few months on piano basics, she was ready to tackle the most challenging concepts. According to Mageo, she was calm during the rehearsal where she had to perform alongside seasoned performers like Mika Aga, Fred Mamea, and Liana Gurr.

 

“As the story goes, Angela got hooked the first time Malaea Estherlene McFall performed Joplin’s ‘The Entertainer’, the entire original composition in three movements. Her mother told me that after Malaea’s performance that night, Angela’s whole notion about piano playing changed. She gets up and tries to practice before she goes to school; she practices for an hour every day.

 

“There’s something about sound that catches the attention of young children,” added Mageo. “Angela, for the first time, had experienced a subtle tinkling when Malaea was playing. The sound became so overwhelming that she wanted to catch it and harness it in a way. It’s a phenomenal experience — something only music could transform.

 

“I am so proud not only for Angela’s progress, but also for all of my students’ achievement. The truth is every student manipulates concepts differently. My job is to guide, coach, and encourage them to try their best,” said Mageo.

 

This is not the first time the studio will feature Mozart’s enduring sonata, according to Mageo. “As a matter of fact, Tia Aga was the first studio’s first student to perform Mozart’s Sonata III in its entirety (three movements).”

 

In the learning process, parents play a very important role. “I thank Manu’a and Michelle (her parents) for not giving up on Angela. I know they are busy with the business, but they make sure Angela gets here on time for her piano lessons.

 

The concert starts at 6:00 at Calvary Temple AOG at Lepuapua (Leone). It is free and the public is invited to attend. Mageo’s colleague, Benjamin Goodwin, will offer the opening and closing prayer. Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti and Mrs. Mauga, along with First Lady Cynthia Malala Moliga, will be among the invited honored guests.

 

In late July, Mageo and his students Arizona Sataua, Jared Fruean, and Liana Gurr and their families — will attend a summer piano camp at the University of Redlands School of Music in southern California.

 

Source: Dancing Fingers media release