Maya has been busy with school work and performing music since we last checked in with her. Maya and family recently traveled to Michigan, where she played a recital at her grandmother’s assisted living residence. She performed two movements from the Bach suite she had been practicing and the Haydn Cello Concerto in D Major. Maya also played several pieces together with her family members who are talented musicians.
In January, Maya participated in the Regional FBLA Competition, and presented in the Business Ethics category with her sister Gabriela. “We wrote and performed a speech about photo manipulation in the workplace, and placed 1st,” Maya reports.
“At the beginning of February, I went to the Model UN conference in Chicago. I was in the Economic and Financial Committee with Joan Huh. We wrote a position paper prior to the conference about cryptocurrencies and gender income inequality,” Maya adds.
In January, Maya attended the Illinois Music Association (ILMEA) All-State Conference, auditioned and was selected as 4th chair cello in the Honors Orchestra. The orchestra played the 1812 overture and a movement from a Shostakovich symphony.
“I also participated in the regional Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics competition a few weeks ago. I tied for 3rd individually in algebra 2, our algebra 2 team placed 1st, and we placed 1st on the two-person and eight-person teams,” Maya explains.
In the near future, Maya will be giving a cello recital at the Old Baptist Foundation. “I’ll be performing the Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, the Haydn Cello Concerto in D Major, and the Beethoven String Quartet Op. 18 No. 4,” Maya says.
Brava Maya!
Maya and Gabriela Benyas perform the 3rd and 4th movements of Beethoven’s String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4 at the SIU School of Music. Left to right: Gabriela Benyas, Violin; Cuty Jung, Violin; Jonathan Henson, Viola; Maya Benyas, Cello.
