Piano Concert At CCFC

More than 40 students of pianist Jeannette Muffley performed in her school's 30th piano recital at Chesapeake Christian Fellowship Church in Davidsonville on June 4. Students included, from left, back row: Natalia Pereira, 15, Alexandra Blunk, 13, Alyssa Gunther, 14, Caroline Anderson, 15, Rachel Disney, 17, Bethany Yamaner, 13, Cody Bray, 13, Leah Colihan, Fiona Murray, 12, Glen Mitchell, 12, Declan Murray, 13, Hannah Murray, 14, Zac Palmer, 16, Jay Goodman, 15, and Muffley; second row: Patrick Mitchell, 9, Patrick Carey, 9, Brynn McClure, 9, Hannah Morley, 10, Kendall Foland, 9, Cameron Bray, 12, Remy Browne, 10, Elise Lancaster, 9, Taylor Collison, 10, Erica Yamaner, 11, Emily Salehi, 12, Jake Besett, 11, Marlee Lancaster, 12, and Faith Wallace, 15; front row: Brooke McClure, 7, Sloan

On  June 4, more than 40 students of pianist Jeannette Muffley performed in her school's 30th piano recital at Chesapeake Christian Fellowship Church in Davidsonville. The program was started by Muffley in 1998.

To the delight of the audience, Muffley herself kicked off the spring recital, playing "Italian Summer" and "The House of Rising Sun." Her performance was followed by 42 of her students ranging in age from 6 to 67.

For many of the students, Muffley noted that this was their first recital while others, after years of lessons, are more experienced. For example, student Christopher Carnahan, who has been playing piano at the church for many years, performed Debussy's "Claire de Lune" and sang while playing Truce.

Natalia Pereira both performed and sang her original composition, "September," and Brooke McClure also performed her original composition, "Goldengem." Faith Wallace played a complicated piece called "Waking the Muse." Six students performed publicly for the first time.

"All my students worked very hard on the pieces played so beautifully at this recital", said Muffley, who noted that many know their pieces so well they played by memory. "The students are extremely busy with studies and many activities, but they still find the time to practice and to play so they can touch us with the beauty of music. I expect some of them will pursue careers as pianists and/or singers in their future."

Muffley, who gives lessons in Edgewater, draws students from throughout the greater Annapolis area. She began her career in South Korea as a professional singer and pianist and began to teach when she moved to Vallejo, California. In 1995, she moved to Maryland where she continues to teach and perform.