First-place winner of the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, Maren Daynes made her debut performance at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in December 2023. She has further distinguished herself through performances at the Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain and the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina.
Daynes is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, while also serving as a music graduate assistant. Trained under the guidance of esteemed instructors such as Dr. Timothy Hoft, Dr. Hilary Demske, Dr. Gerta Wiemer, Dr. Koji Attwood, Nicolette Bird and Mariah Sam, Maren has performed in masterclasses led by renowned musicians like Awadagin Pratt, Santiago Rodriguez, Jason Hardink, Liza Stepanova, Lisa Moore and the Fry Street Quartet.
Maren graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Utah Valley University in 2024. Daynes earned additional certificates in Piano Pedagogy and Collaborative Piano. Her dedication to teaching is evident in her role as a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano (NCTM) and as the former President of the UVU UMTA Chapter.
With nearly a decade of teaching experience, Daynes is not only a performer but also a mentor, guiding aspiring musicians to success in international competitions and collegiate programs. Her pedagogical approach emphasizes both technical precision and artistic expression, fostering a deep and enduring love for music in her students.
You can find Maren’s 2022 17th Century Music Competition piano performance here.
You can find Maren’s 2024 Contemporary Music Competition piano performance here.