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Carnegie Hall, December 2023

Biography

Maren Daynes, NCTM is an accomplished concert pianist, educator, and award-winning performer, known for her versatility in both solo and collaborative performances. With a passion for music education, she is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) and focuses on nurturing the next generation of musicians.

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First-place winner of the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, Maren made her debut at Carnegie Hall in December 2023. Her performance career has taken her to venues and festivals worldwide, including the Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain, the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina, and a concerto performance with Sinfonietta Vidin in Bulgaria (July 2025). Additional notable performances include a concerto appearance with the Utah Valley Symphony and a collaborative recital with the Communication University of Zhejiang in China.

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Maren has earned top honors in several prestigious competitions, including the Utah Valley Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition (2021), the Charleston International 17th Century Music Competition (2022), the Young Collaborative Pianists Competition (2023), among others. Additionally, she was a finalist in the American String Teachers Association–Utah Chamber Competition (2023) and has received honorable mentions in various other competitions.

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Currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Maren is a graduate assistant in collaborative piano. She actively contributes to UNLV’s opera program, choirs, and performance projects. She has studied under esteemed professors including Dr. Timothy Hoft, Dr. Hilary Demske, Dr. Gerta Wiemer, and Dr. Koji Attwood.

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Maren graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Utah Valley University (UVU), where she also obtained certificates in Piano Pedagogy and Collaborative Piano. She is currently serving as the President of the UNLV MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Chapter. Her contributions to the musical community extend to her role as an adjudicator for various piano competitions in Las Vegas to Salt Lake City.​

Degrees, Certifications, and Awards

Degrees and Certifications

  • Master of Music in Piano Performance, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2024–2026)

  • Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Utah Valley University (2020–2024), summa cum laude

  • Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano (NCTM), Music Teachers National Association (2024)

  • Certificate: Piano Pedagogy, Utah Valley University (2024)

  • Certificate: Collaborative Piano, Chamber Music, Utah Valley University (2023)

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Competitions and Awards

  • 1st Place: World's Best Musicians Classical Music Competition (2025)

  • 1st Place: Young Collaborative Pianists Competition (2023)

  • 1st Place: American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition (2022)

  • 1st Place: Charleston International 17th Century Music Competition (2022)

  • 1st Place: Great Composers Concerto Series (2022)

  • 1st Place: Utah Valley Symphony Concerto Competition (2021)

  • 2nd Place: Charleston International Contemporary Music Competition (2024)

  • 2nd Place: Charleston International Winter Music Competition (2022)

  • 2nd Place: Young Collaborative Pianists Competition (2021)

  • Honorable Mention: UMTA Concerto Competition (2022)

  • Alternate: UVU Concerto Competition (2022)

  • Finalist: American String Teachers Association–Utah Chamber Competition (2023)

  • Certificate of Excellence: UVU School of the Arts (2023)

  • Superior Ratings: Utah Solo and Ensemble Festival (2018 and 2020)

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Scholarships

  • Graduate Assistantship – Music, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2024–2025)

  • Graduate Recruitment Scholarship, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2024)

  • Erlyn & Duane Madsen Scholarship Endowment, Utah Valley University (2023–2024)

  • Marie Gappmayer Endowed Scholarship, Utah Valley University (2023–2024)

  • Young Artist Merit Award, Eastern Music Festival (2023)

  • Work-Study Award, Eastern Music Festival (2023)

  • Exceptional Performance Scholarship, Utah Valley University (2020–2023)

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Festivals and Notable Performances

  • International Musicians Academy, Bulgaria (July 2025)

  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas Opera Workshop Production: Queen of Hearts (2024)

  • Vox Femina: Suffrage Cantata (2024)

  • Fall and Winter Concerts, UNLV Choirs (2024)

  • Gijón International Piano Festival, Spain (2023)

  • Eastern Music Festival, North Carolina, USA (2023)

  • Concerto Soloist with the Utah Valley Symphony (2022)

  • Time for Three with UVU Symphony Orchestra (2022)

  • Utah Valley University School of the Arts Honors Recital (2022)

  • Utah Valley University Awards of Excellence Night (2022)

  • Unveiling of UVU Concert Hall (2021)

  • Collaborative Piano Recital with Communication University of Zhejiang, China (2021)

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Masterclass Performances

  • Awadagin Pratt (2023)

  • Santiago Rodriguez (2023)

  • William Wolfram (2023)

  • Lisa Moore (2023)

  • Jason Hardink (2022)

  • Liza Stepanova (2021)

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Research, Presentations, and Grants

  • "Design Factors That Affect Your Teaching Studio," Utah Music Teachers Association (2024)

  • "Journey to Carnegie Hall: Competitive Performance through Research," Utah Conference of Undergraduate Research (2024)

  • Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant for Carnegie Hall Performance (2023)

  • "Nurturing the Now: New Music for a New Generation," Utah Music Teachers Association Annual Conference (2023)

  • "Teaching Rhythm Through Ta-Ka-Di-Mi," Utah Music Teachers Association Annual Conference (2022)

  • "Double Escapement," Utah Music Teachers Association Conference (2021)

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Contact

Maren Daynes

(832) 270-8406

marenthepianist@gmail.com

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