Gemstone Keys
2026 Piano Party Recap & Other Spring Semester Highlights
On May 3rd, Con Brio students and families were transported into a world of gemstones, imagination, and musical storytelling for our 2026 Gemstone Keys — and what a magical afternoon it was.
Gemstone Keys invited our pianists to think about music in a different way: not simply as notes on a page, but as something full of color, texture, personality, and expressive energy.
Each performer selected a special gemstone to represent the mood and character of their featured solo, creatively reimagining the title of their piece into something entirely their own. From March of the Obsidian Trolls to Quartz Keys Lullaby and The Flamingo’s Pink Tourmaline, students stepped into the role of artistic storytellers, shaping vivid musical “sound pictures” through performance.
Obsidian Smash
Performed by: Liam Burker
Flamingo’s Pink Tourmalin
Performed by: Grizzly Campen
Slate King
Performed by: Nolan Parisot
Shine on, Diamond
Performed by : Mila Tarasova
Väyrynenite Vista
Performed by Theoren Lachendro
Quarts Keys Lullaby
Performed by: Amelia Montes
Twinkle Twinkle Little Diamond
Performed by: Raelynn Hagen
Limestone Con Brio
Performed by: Maddox Wyckoff-Kirkevold
Emerald Fairy
Performed by: Claire Ruland
Still Waters of Sapphire
Performed by: Cal Ohman
Moonstone Whisper
Performed by: Milava Kochkina
March of the Obsidian Trolls
Performed by: Elliott Bush
Ludwig’s Favorite Ruby
Performed by: Paxton Wyckoff-Kirkevold
Gallop of the Garnet Pony
Performed by: Audrey Gerhardt
Opel Serenade
Performed by: Lily Langley
Red Jasper Joy
Performed by: Kiera Parisot
Another special moment came from longtime Con Brio student Steffi, who served as our featured student emcee. Having studied piano at Con Brio for over half a decade, Steffi welcomed guests and shared reflections about musical color and expression, inspiring many of our pianists who look up to her.
“The piano keys are black and white, but they sound like a million colors in your mind.”
— Maria Cristina Mena
Our Piano Parties are also a place where we celebrate special accomplishments and awards. This time, we recognized students who recently took part in Con Brio’s annual Music Memorization Challenge.
What is the Music Memorization Challenge
During the last week of April, participating students prepared and performed a minimum of four pieces entirely from memory as part of this studio-wide enrichment contest designed to strengthen musical confidence, focus, and performance readiness. The challenge celebrates not only achievement, but the dedication and consistency it takes to connect with music.
We were proud to recognize this year’s Music Memorization Challenge Honorees during the Piano Party and present participants with their results and certificates:
Raelyn Hagen
Audrey Gerhardt
Ryan Nguyen
Nolan Parisot
Keira Parisot
Mila Tarasova
Stella Morey
Paxton Wyckoff-Kirkevold
Maddox Wyckoff-Kirkevold
Students receiving Above & Beyond Honors for preparing six or more memorized pieces included:
Raelyn Hagen
Audrey Gerhardt
Nolan Parisot
Keira Parisot
Paxton Wyckoff-Kirkevold
Maddox Wyckoff-Kirkevold
Watching students begin to think artistically, communicate emotionally through music, and celebrate one another’s creativity is one of the greatest joys of teaching.
We are already looking forward to the next chapter of musical artistry at Con Brio Piano Studio!
About Con Brio
Con Brio is a Piano Studio in Gig Harbor that is dedicated to nurturing a love for music and developing expressive, confident musicians. Founded with a focus on cultivating lifelong music, Con Brio offers a supportive and enriching environment where students of all ages can explore their musical side.
About Our Piano Parties
Piano Parties at Con Brio are student showcase celebrations honoring the musicality and pianistic growth of our students as they take the stage for their early recital experiences. For many Gemstone Keys performers, this marked their very first recital!
Thank you to every student, family member, volunteer, and guest who helped make Gemstone Keys such a memorable success.