For fourteen years, Tracey Steele has been an important influence in my life, helping me express my personality through music and grow as a person. Her constant encouragement and patience have driven me to achieve my musical and personal goals. As I’ve grown up, Tracey has been both my teacher and my friend. Her endless passion and sacrifice as a piano teacher for the Dollard Center for the Arts transformed a non-profit community service into an extended family. With Tracey, music is not just a hobby, but also a learning experience where her students cooperate to create incredible collaborative pieces, like our twelve-player adaptation of Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins. Her tireless effort has helped each of us develop a personal style. With Tracey, playing piano is more than just learning to play an instrument; it’s about having fun, forming friendships, and learning to develop our personal tastes. Tracey deserves to be recognized for her determination and hard work, which turned a community piano school into a second home for her students. Tracey’s impact on my life and on the lives of her students is undeniable, and I am extremely proud to say that Tracey is my piano teacher.
