As one piano prodigy in the Pre-College division is set to graduate, another is already making her mark on the keys.  

Sixteen-year-old David Gatien has been part of SFCM's Pre-College for several years and in that time has collected several impressive prizes, including wins at the Yeonchon MK International Young Artist Piano Competition in South Korea, the Seattle International, ENKOR International and San Francisco International Piano Competitions. "While I am always very happy about any competition wins, I always feel very humble afterwards," David said. "It's a great honor when the judges are moved by what you intend to communicate, no matter the result or outcome." David will be graduating from the program after the Spring 2026 semester. 

16-year-old SFCM pianist David Gatien.

Meanwhile, brand-new to the Pre-College is 14-year-old Isabel Feng. The ninth grader was just named a division finalist in the Music Teachers National Association Southwest Division Junior Piano Competition, an honor that puts her among the top young pianists in the region. 

"I feel very honored," Isabel said. The feat is especially exciting for Isabel as she recently won all three California Association of Professional Music Teachers competitions as well as the prestigious Xinghai Cup National Piano Competition in China.

Pre-College student Isabel Feng.

Moreover, Isabel and David were both selected to compete in the Preliminary Rounds of the prestigious Gina Bachauer International Junior and Young Artist Piano Competition this coming January as well as the Hilton Head International Piano Competition next March. These two competitions are highly selective and they were chosen after an intense pre-screening round from a field of hundreds of applicants from around the world.

Both students are students of professor Yoshikazu Nagai. "David has been an outstanding and exceptional pianist for Pre-College and I believe Isabel to be no less exceptional and happy that she is part of SFCM," Nagai said. 

Both David and Isabel started on the piano as very young children. For Isabel, it was a yearning to copy an older sibling who had started piano: "When I turned four, I begged my mom to let me play as well, because I wanted to be just like my sister."

Professor Yoshikazu Nagai with students David and Isabel.

"I am very proud of her," Isabel's mother Jessie Zhang, who enrolled her in the Pre-College after seeing a flyer, said. "The variety of the curriculum attracted me," Zhang continued. "I felt this might be something that Isabel would be interested in. It's been a wonderful experience so far. Isabel has adjusted to this new routine pretty well, waking up early Saturday mornings and spending an entire day here at SFCM."

After listening to his mother play the piano for years, David was just shy of six when she asked if he wanted to take lessons. "I said 'yes' without any hesitation," he said. "It wasn't forced on me and I'm glad it wasn't. It just became a part of my daily life that I began to enjoy exponentially more over time."

"I like being in an environment where I am surrounded by music and where my peers also enjoy music," David continued. "Before Pre-College, I was very hesitant about performing for people, and while I absolutely still feel nervous, I now enjoy the opportunity to share my music with others a lot more than I did before."

Isabel practices piano at SFCM.

SFCM's Pre-College division offers an immersive set of programs that instill the value of music in youth 18 and under, providing an artistic framework and tailored instruction for the next generation of musicians. Programs integrate private lessons with musicianship courses, small and large ensemble experiences, masterclasses, and performance opportunities, with the goal of making music a core part of children's lives. The rewards aren't just musical: Of the 2025 SFCM Pre-College graduating class, nearly 50 percent went on to top colleges like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Cornell, Northwestern, UCLA, Vanderbilt, and Pomona.

"I like SFCM's Pre-college because it's a really different environment than what I'm used to," Isabel said. "I go to 'regular' school Monday through Friday. Here at SFCM, I'm surrounded by people who share the same passion as me, and we communicate, collaborate, and learn from each other." 

Both students have nothing but praise for their teacher. "Professor Nagai has helped me so much," Isabel said. "He's really good at pinpointing problems and finding solutions immediately. He also helps me choose repertoire and programs that fit me the best and gives me useful tips for competitions. Lastly, he's really fun!"

David Gatien at SFCM.

For David, as he's set to advance past the program, he's full of gratitude for his time spent there. "If I were to list all the things I like about both SFCM and my teacher, you would be looking at a multi-page document," David joked, adding, "I feel like I have grown a lot as a musician since starting Pre-College, and I attribute a lot of that growth to my teacher, Mr. Nagai." 

"I feel very fortunate to be his student and I really appreciate all the guidance and advice he has given me so far, not just for music but for life as well."

Learn more about SFCM’s Pre-College.