ISU piano teacher heads to international competition

Piano experts from around the world are heading to Washington, D.C. for an international competition.

One of the pianists who will be competing is Natalia Lauk, an Idaho State University choir pianist and piano teacher.

Growing up with parents who were both pianists, Lauk has loved playing since she was four years old. Now she gets to take that love to the big stage in Washington, D.C. where she will be competing in the international piano festival.

“It’s a pretty big event,” Lauk said. “It’s like little Olympics for pianists. It’s going to be all around the world, and I’m going to be coached by international judges.”

Lauk will have nine days of private lessons with some of the most renowned pianists in the world. While there, she will also learn the different styles of how piano is taught around the globe.

Lauk said she’s very excited for such a unique and rare opportunity.

“I”m head over heels to be honest,” she said.

“It’s like for professional athletes,” Lauk said. “You have to compete if you want to understand your limits, your abilities. And whatever I will be doing there, if I win, if I not win, I’m still coming back and bettering myself as a pianist and a teacher.”

Lauk will be competing for a chance to perform at the world-renowned Kennedy Center. She has been practicing about six hours every day to prepare. She said as far as she knows, no one from ISU has ever gone to this competition before. So she said she’s excited to be able to represent the university and Pocatello.

“I want to know, Washington D.C., that Idaho and especially Pocatello, has an amazing musical education program and we have one of the best facilities in the United States,” Lauk said.

Lauk is also excited because this will be her first trip to D.C. She comes from a Russian background and said she has been a U.S. citizen for one year. So she said this trip to the nation’s capitol will be even more special.

Lauk said she loves Pocatello and the community and everyone has been more than encouraging.

“With support of this community, I feel like they have my back,” she said. “So I feel more secure and I’m going to feel the support on stage and this is definitely going to be better for me as a performer.”

The whole trip costs about $2,000. Lauk received a $400 scholarship from the festival as part of her acceptance to compete. The community has also raised another $500 to help Lauk cover travel expenses.

The competition will be July 25 through Aug. 1.