Young Sammamish Pianists, Part of New Music Generation, Perform at 'Ten Grands' Concert at Benaroya Hall

Four Sammamish pianists received public recognition Friday by performing at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle, as finalists in KING FM's "Ten Grands Young Artists" competition.

The four were: Nathan Lee, a 9-year-old who was named the grand prize recipient, Jay Grinols, a 12-year-old finalist, Carly Ann Worden, an 18-year-old finalist and Robert Yan, a 10-year-old finalist.

Before the main concert started, the four and other young musicians from throughout the Seattle area performed in Benaroya Hall's grand lobby. About 2,500 people were expected for the evening concert.

The "Ten Grands" concert raised money for The Snowman Foundation, which uses it to provide music education, pianos and other instruments and scholarships, said Steve Dewalt, a board member.

The evening concert included a tribute to Michael Jackson, solo performances and music from a jazz quartet.

In a solo performance, Lee played Nocturne No. 20 in C Sharp Minor Op. Posthumous by Chopin, according to the concert program. As part of the competition, he will receive a $1,000 scholarship from KING FM (98.1).

Musician Karl Ronneburg, a 16-year-old from Sammamish, also was a competition finalist but was unable to attend.

The Kiwanis Club of Sammamish provided support for 12 young people affiliated with the Sammamish Family YMCA to attend the concert, organizers said. RBC Wealth Management was a major sponsor of this year's "Ten Grands" performance.

Lee is a third-grade student at . Grinols attends the same school and is in the sixth grade. Worden is studying at . Yan is a fifth-grade student at . Ronneburg is a 10th-grade student at .

Lee and Grinols have been past  recipients on Sammamish Patch.

Worden explained that she began studying piano at the age of 3. These days, she also teaches music to kids.

"I really want to portray the fact that music can bring happiness to the world and it can bring people together," she said. "I hope that with my compositions I can bring that to future generations and give that same joy to people."