The following text describes what my students, their parents and I experience during our beautiful recitals.

I came to Richmond with my family on January 1995. My neighbor at the time, who has become a beloved friend, Pam Sessler, introduced me to her Piano Teacher Gabriella Ryan. Thanks to this lovely acquaintance, I soon started a Piano Studio in my house. Our first recitals took place at the Valentine Museum. There were four of them. Then, around May 1997, I received a phone call from my now Piano Colleague and great friend Gabriella, letting me know of this wonderful place that was opening that had a beautiful hall for Piano Recitals. In short, welcomed by Cedarfield Program Director Mrs. Angela Love, we had a new place for our Piano Recitals. Since then, year after year, Gabriella and I have had the support of all program directors that have continued to welcome us into this magnificent hall for our piano recitals, making possible today's celebration. I am very grateful to the Cedarfield Community for their constant support.

Twenty years of Piano Recitals have definitely played a major role in my life as a piano teacher. Recital days bring me the joy of seeing every one of my students shine in one or more pieces that start during lesson time from, "Let's take a look at your new piece", to "You have to practice a little more for this piece so that it becomes recital version" to finally, "You will play awesome in this recital". The preparation for each one of these recitals takes place during their piano lesson time and have given me the unique opportunity to see my students grow up musically year after year, recital after recital, and most of all, to establish a forever lasting bond with many of them. Proof of this is the response that I have had from every single one of my former students, whom I invited to this celebration. Some of them can't be here with us today, but several of them came to remember their years of piano recitals in this marvelous hall, and to remember precious family moments.

I will forever treasure the memories of these recitals. All of them start with the enthusiastic arrival of my students, elegantly dressed, accompanied by parents, grand-parents, younger siblings and other family members. They bring with them beautiful smiles that give path to wonderful piano performances of my students. How accomplished they feel when they finish playing and bow at the audience in response to a heartfelt applause! At reception time, how proud I am of all of them when I hear marvelous comments about their playing: At dinner time on Recital Day, it is a tradition that my supportive husband and children engage in a conversation about the recital, about each one of my students performances. I assure you that I feel there has not been a single one that has not felt like a total success.

The speeches that I write about my dear students graduating from my Piano Studio and leaving for college are among the most significant memories of these piano recitals. How many times in these twenty years have I sat down to write about you, my dear former piano students, throughout these years together? It has been so unique to remember high-lights of years of lessons with each one of you. Thank you for bringing me the joy to see you again today for this special occasion.

Today, we are celebrating twenty years of wonderful Piano Recitals at Cedarfield, and we are looking forward to many more to come. Thank you so much to all of you, members of our musical family for your presence, smile.