Student Spotlight: Jonny Faust
September 30th, 2024
"I cannot stress how much music has helped me in the real world. I have learned to become more disciplined, hard-working, patient, confident, and organized. There’s just something about it that just clicks outside of a practice room."
Jonny Faust is a 15-year-old piano student at the Music Institute of Chicago's Community Music School. He has been playing piano since kindergarten, but began taking lessons at MIC in 4th grade. He studies piano with Dr. Soo Young Lee at the Lake Forest Campus.
"I started at MIC when my parents thought that in order to grow as a musician, I needed a better teacher. A friend, who is also a professional violinist, recommend MIC, as it had the best teachers around, according to her. Glad we took her word for it because I couldn’t be happier here!"
Jonny has received several gold medals from the Sonata- Sonatina Festivals of the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association, North West Suburban Music Teachers Association, and North Shore Music Teachers Associations. He also has received an Honorable Mention from the 2021 “Bach with the View” Young Artists Festival & Competition. He performs regularly at the Merion Concert Series and at the Plymouth Young Artist Series. Most recently, he has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall after winning first place in the 2023 American Protégé Competition!
"Music has taught me my connection to the music," Jonny shares. "Over the years, I've learned to understand the different facets of each piece and appreciate the creativity that came with it. Now knowing that, as a performer, it becomes my job to recreate this image. What keeps me motivated is knowing that by doing this, I share this joy with others."
Jonny's passion for music extends beyond the practice room. He has discovered that the skills he has developed as a musician, such as discipline, hard work, patience, confidence, and organization, are invaluable in other areas of his life.
One piece of advice that Jonny found particularly helpful was from his teacher, Dr. Soo Young Lee. During the pandemic, Dr. Soo encouraged him to take his piano studies more seriously. "Thank god I did, because it kept me sane by giving me something to do and it completely transformed my playing," Jonny says.
As a sophomore in high school, Jonny's future plans are still evolving. While he is currently interested in pursuing a career in medicine, he hopes to continue playing piano for enjoyment. He has been selected to perform at the 2024 Young Steinway Artists Series as a piano duo member of Zhaust Piano Duo and will be featured as a soloist in spring of 2025.
"I cannot stress how much music has helped me in the real world. I have learned to become more disciplined, hard-working, patient, confident, and organized. There’s just something about it that just clicks outside of a practice room."
Jonny Faust is a 15-year-old piano student at the Music Institute of Chicago's Community Music School. He has been playing piano since kindergarten, but began taking lessons at MIC in 4th grade. He studies piano with Dr. Soo Young Lee at the Lake Forest Campus.
"I started at MIC when my parents thought that in order to grow as a musician, I needed a better teacher. A friend, who is also a professional violinist, recommend MIC, as it had the best teachers around, according to her. Glad we took her word for it because I couldn’t be happier here!"
Jonny has received several gold medals from the Sonata- Sonatina Festivals of the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association, North West Suburban Music Teachers Association, and North Shore Music Teachers Associations. He also has received an Honorable Mention from the 2021 “Bach with the View” Young Artists Festival & Competition. He performs regularly at the Merion Concert Series and at the Plymouth Young Artist Series. Most recently, he has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall after winning first place in the 2023 American Protégé Competition!
"Music has taught me my connection to the music," Jonny shares. "Over the years, I've learned to understand the different facets of each piece and appreciate the creativity that came with it. Now knowing that, as a performer, it becomes my job to recreate this image. What keeps me motivated is knowing that by doing this, I share this joy with others."
Jonny's passion for music extends beyond the practice room. He has discovered that the skills he has developed as a musician, such as discipline, hard work, patience, confidence, and organization, are invaluable in other areas of his life.
One piece of advice that Jonny found particularly helpful was from his teacher, Dr. Soo Young Lee. During the pandemic, Dr. Soo encouraged him to take his piano studies more seriously. "Thank god I did, because it kept me sane by giving me something to do and it completely transformed my playing," Jonny says.
As a sophomore in high school, Jonny's future plans are still evolving. While he is currently interested in pursuing a career in medicine, he hopes to continue playing piano for enjoyment. Jonny has been selected to perform at the 2024 Young Steinway Artists Series as a piano duo member of Zhaust Piano Duo and will be featured as a soloist in spring of 2025.
