Lawton Chiles Middle student is finalist in piano competition

     Lawton Chiles Middle School student Telisa Gaviria was a finalist in the Dranoff 2 Piano Foundation’s 2022 Piano Slam, held in April at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami.

      Telisa was in the sixth grade and was one of eight students representing middle schools in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. 

      The Piano Slam is a program that combines classical music, creative writing and the spoken word.

      At the contest Telisa performed her poem with a professional ensemble of classical musicians, the school said.

      Telisa’s poem described the anxiety and physical responses she felt before speaking in front of classmates. 

      Her performance can be viewed on YouTube at https://bit.ly/3MI7UcQ.