- My name is Mio Moser and I play piano.

(Mio playing the piano) Today, I played Rachmaninoff's "Etude-Tableau", Opus 33, number 5 and 6.

I think these pieces, each one of them, represents a unique picture that Rachmaninoff had in mind while composing them.

However, he did not...

He was not too keen on sharing these images that he had in mind while composing, which is why it is the performer's job to interpret them as what they think it means.

(Mio playing the piano) So, the first piece I played, I believe that it's a winter storm, because it is in the minor key, and it has many fast notes that sort of imitate the wind.

(Mio playing the piano) (Mio playing the piano) The second piece, Rachmaninoff actually wrote in a letter to a friend that it is supposed to be a fair.

So, I think of that when I'm playing them.

(Mio playing the piano) Obviously, they're very technically difficult pieces.

There are a lot of fast notes and passages.

So, I think what's most difficult is to still be technically proficient, while being able to show the ideas of the composer.

I think I chose the piano to learn, because it has such a large range, not just of notes, but also of colors and sounds that you can make on it, almost like a whole orchestra, and I really liked that.

(Mio playing the piano) I was nominated by my piano teacher, Janara Khassenova.

I would like to thank my piano teacher for helping me understand these pieces better and showing me how to interpret them properly.

And, I would also like to thank my mom who has supported me, not just while learning these pieces, but throughout my whole life, pretty much, and has always encouraged me to stay positive and believe in myself.

(Mio playing the piano)