Gallery • 6 Photos

Matthew Ramirez '26

Sophia Shao (11), Reina Ohtani (11), and Juliette Loyd (11) bow after their trio piano opening number at Shao's George Slick recital on June 2.

There was nothing in between junior Sophia Shao and her music.

Shao took over the George H. Slick auditorium to perform her George Slick Fellowship recital on Tuesday, June 2. Her performance featured pieces by classical musicians like Mozart, Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Beethoven.

“I’m really happy with how it went,” Shao said. “Most of my pieces went pretty smoothly, and not too many bad things happened.”

Shao worked with music teacher Mr. Nicholas Pignataro, private instructors, and peers from her music classes. Recipients of the George H. Slick fellowship apply and are selected in the freshman year of high school and receive support towards a recital or exhibition in their junior year.

“Sophia Shao is automatic,” Pignataro said. “Sophia can just deliver whenever, and I think that’s a sign of her incredible preparation.”

Shao selected all the music pieces in the performance and built the program by herself. She selected music that she had played and enjoyed in the past, and some songs were recommended by her music teachers.

“I would have never found the Yankee Doodle piece out on my own, but my violin teacher was like, ‘Oh, why don’t you play this?’ and I was like, ‘Oh, it’s fun.’” Shao said.

In the final number of the performance, the symphony orchestra was accompanied by Shao. Student performers volunteered their own time and talents to perform with Shao in her recital. There were even student performers from other schools in the ensemble.

“We had rehearsals every week,” junior and guest musician Elsie Staley-Bischoff said. “ I’ve never heard Sophia play on her own, and she’s so amazing and incredible to actually hear and play all these crazy solo pieces.”

Shao has had an instrument in her hands since she was four years old and appreciates the school community and support.

“[The recital] really just feels like a culmination of everything I’ve been working on for 10 plus years,” Shao said. “It was really rewarding and just really enjoyable.”