Fourth Grader to Play at Carnegie Hall
Bunyada Song ’34 earned third place (Young Musicians Category, Age 5 to 10) in the 2025 American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music. She performed Song of the Lark by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Album for the Young, Op. 39 – XXII). Her performance earned her a place to perform in a winners’ recital at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall, one of the most prestigious stages in the world, on December 21, 2025. Earlier in the year, she participated in the National Federation of Music Clubs Festival, the Mid-Cities Music Teachers Association Sonata-Sonatina Festival, and the Fort Worth Music Teachers Association Solo Competition. At each of these events, she received Superior Plus ratings and was honored with the distinction of performing as a recitalist.
Bunyada has been dedicating significant time and effort to the piano since she was 8 years old, studying with Mariel Zuniga of The Creative Piano. She was also featured in Ms. Zuniga’s interview with Voyage Dallas Magazine. In preparation for this competition, Bunyada attended a masterclass with Daniel Anastasio, a soloist and chamber musician, at the Steinway Piano Gallery.
In addition to studying piano, Bunyada has competed in several Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, earning silver and bronze medals at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Jiu-Jitsu World League. This year, she began learning tennis, with hopes of one day representing FWCD in the sport.
Bunyada strives to grow through a balance of the 3A’s that FWCD offers. While exploring her creativity through piano and ballet, she builds strength and discipline through tennis and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She challenges herself academically at FWCD and, since 2023, as a member of Mensa and the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Through these experiences, she continues to learn the value of perseverance – finding pride not in outcomes alone, but in the growth and self-discovery that come from each challenge.
American Protégé is a renowned international music competition series that celebrates and promotes exceptional young musicians from around the world. It welcomes performers across many disciplines — including piano, strings, winds and voice — and offers winners the incredible opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall. The Romantic Music Competition invites instrumentalists from all over the world to submit video performances for judging, with multiple winners selected in each age group.
