Student Spotlight: Julya and Tuul Win First Place at the Leondar Contest

A proud teacher moment: my student Julya Pollard, together with her duo partner Tuul Borjigin (piano), won First Place in the Grades 7–9 Mixed Chamber Ensemble division at this year's

Leondar Chamber Music and Ensemble Contest, hosted by the Texas Music Teachers Association.

Julya's success reflects her genuine dedication — hours of focused practice, curiosity about the music, and tremendous growth as a musician that made this especially rewarding to watch as her teacher. What I'm most excited about is watching Julya and Tuul discover everything chamber music has to offer — the listening, the collaboration, the shared musical voice it demands.

Competitions don't define a musician's growth, but they're a great way to build confidence and set meaningful goals. Congratulations, Julya and Tuul — well deserved. I can't wait to see what's next.