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Thanksgiving is around the corner, and I love being reminded of everything we are thankful for. At Keys 2 Success, blessing after blessing has been coming our way. In October, my dear teacher from Juilliard Pre-College gave a one-in-a-lifetime Masterclass at my home on the very piano my mom and dad bought for my sister and me almost 50 years ago! It felt like everything that had been poured into me through my journey as an immigrant by my parents, and Ms. Fuschi was coming out and making dreams come true for our Keys 2 Success students. Thank you for believing in this dream. I am grateful for you!
Jee-Hoon Krska, Executive Director
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On Saturday, October 14th, Keys 2 Success hosted its annual fall fundraiser, which took the form of a piano masterclass at Executive Director Jee-Hoon Krska’s home. The master, Olegna Fuschi, is a world-renowned pianist and former director of Juilliard’s pre-college division for over two decades. Her transformative leadership at Juilliard left an indelible mark, making it so each graduate would receive a diploma identical to that of the College diplomas upon presenting a senior recital. She also introduced the prestigious Juilliard pre-college concerto competitions, requiring each piano student to master a full-length concerto and play it before a jury, with the chance to perform with the pre-college orchestra. Notably, Ms. Fuschi expanded the singular pre-college orchestra into four separate orchestras, allowing room for more competition winners each year. Ms. Fuschi’s commitment to Keys 2 Success was evident in her willingness to undertake a three-hour round trip to make this event possible. Keys 2 Success holds a profound and cherished place in her heart, and you might wonder why. The reason is a heartwarming connection - Olegna Fuschi is none other than Jee-Hoon’s childhood piano teacher at the Juilliard pre-college.
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Olegna Fuschi and Urban Fellow Darasimi Ajayi
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The masterclass commenced with a performance by Urban Fellow Darasimi Ajayi, who delivered a mesmerizing rendition of “The Song of Twilight” by Yoshinao Nakada. When introducing her, Jee-Hoon Krska shared, “Darasimi is very serious. She is an A+ student with more than a 4.0 GPA. So, being an Asian Tiger Mom, I tell Darasimi she will be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. But Darasimi is very determined, and she says, ‘no, I don’t want to simply have a successful STEM career. I want to be like you. I also want to play the piano really really well’. Darasimi is learning, but she is also teaching other kids. Darasimi brought in other high schoolers, and together, they are learning to lead. We stay close, we’re family.”
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Darasimi’s performance that night was nothing short of breathtaking, leaving Ms. Fuschi in awe. Each note she played exuded grace and eloquence, perfectly encapsulating the sensitivity associated with twilight. Ms. Fuschi had nothing but praise for her exceptional talent and dedication.
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Following Darasimi’s performance, Jee-Hoon shared insights into her own piano journey and the special bond she shares with Ms. Fuschi. “When I was six years old, my mom bought my sister and me a piano and said ‘ta-da! You’re going to play the piano now.' My sister and I began to play, but what was unique about the situation was that my mom would sit next to my sister and me to help us practice at least 2 hours every day. She wanted to make sure we were the best in the whole country. She watched our lessons, and during them, she’d write down notes, seeing what we had to do, and then would come home and make sure we practiced how we were supposed to. We got the best scores in Malaysia each year as we took the ABRSM assessments. But when we immigrated to America, it was a different ball game. America was a much bigger pond.
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Still, for whatever reason, my mom still thought, ‘hey, why not! My kids are going to be the best in America.’ So she picked up the phone, called Juilliard pre-college, and said, ‘hey, can my kids attend?’ That is how she got in touch with Ms. Fuschi. When Ms. Fuschi listened to us play, she realized that we were not quite ready yet, so she offered to train us. And she trained us for what I believe was about 18 months, taking us back to the basics of playing the piano. We eventually auditioned for Juilliard and got in.”
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Jee-Hoon (L-back), her twin sister, Jee-Lian, and other piano students at Ms. Fuschi's home
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Jee-Hoon went on to describe the challenging period in her life when her mother fell ill and later passed away during her high school years. In that trying time, Ms. Fuschi became the guiding light that Jee-Hoon and her twin sister desperately needed to persevere and remain hopeful. Recalling the supportive environment, Ms. Fuschi shared, “I would come into my studio and both Jee-Hoon and her sister would be asleep on the couch. I would say ‘okay which one of you first?’ and the other one would keep on sleeping because I knew they needed it.” This unwavering compassion and strength displayed by Ms. Fuschi became the source of inspiration for Jee-Hoon to establish Keys. She wanted to instill in students the belief that anything is possible and to help them to realize their full potential just as Ms. Fuschi did for her.
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Following the dialogue, Jee-Hoon eagerly performed Charles-Valentin Alkan’s “Le festin d’Ésope”, a piece that Ms. Fuschi had previously described as “hard to make sound like music.”
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The program concluded with an address from board member Renée Frank, who expressed gratitude to all in attendance and the dedicated staff whose hard work made the event possible. The culinary expertise of April Montgomery was on full display, with her delectable creations including grilled cheese, tomato soup, and hot cider, all of which were greatly enjoyed. Behind the scenes, Anita Horton played a pivotal role in orchestrating the event, managing logistics, decorating, and offering support wherever it was needed.
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Following Renée’s speech, Ms. Fuschi surprised everyone present, including Ms. Krska. She stood before the audience and announced, “The Lhévinne Legacy 2023, the first Rosina Lhévinne award for education in the arts: In recognition of her inspirational founding of Keys 2 Success, a path to quality music education providing invaluable opportunities to the underprivileged young, Jee-Hoon Yap Krska is presented with this award which carries with it $1,000 gift to Keys 2 Success”. Instantly, audience erupted in applause as Jee-Hoon received her award and warmly embraced Ms. Fuschi.
This award carries profound symbolism. Rosina Lhévinne was Ms. Fuschi’s own teacher and in part, the source of her inspiration in both piano and teaching. Ms. Fuschi is now passing that legacy on, first to Ms. Krska and Juilliard Pre-College students and then through Ms. Krska to Darasimi and Keys 2 Success students.
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Eventually, the legacy will be passed on again, but this time it will come from Keys 2 Success students. The cycle will repeat itself, and this tradition of hope, artistry, and strength will continue without end.
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About the Author: Madeline Carnesi is a staff member at Keys 2 Success, and will be starting at Emory University in January 2024. She plans to major in public policy and minor in piano performance, and hopes to attend law school. At Keys 2 Success, she has taught many students, writes articles, and is involved in fundraising. Madeline attended the masterclass with her parents and younger sister Celia who is now also going to be volunteering with Keys 2 Success.
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Keys 2 Success has supporters from nearly every state in the country and almost every county in New Jersey. Because of our dual headquarters in New Providence and Newark, we can bring together communities from all different backgrounds and cultures. While we teach 100% in Newark, The New Providence United Methodist Church has graciously donated an office space nestled within the church building to Keys 2 Success. Access to this space has opened up many more opportunities for training and collaboration. Our Urban Fellows come every Friday afternoon for additional training. Keys 2 Success staff collaborates with volunteers from the church, as well as members of the Junior League of Summit regularly in this cozy office.
Working together, we cross metaphorical and physical lines - brought together by a singular yearning to build a new and just community to love one another and our world.
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If you are in New Jersey on Saturday, November 18th, please consider stopping by the Ballantine Funfair at the Newark Museum of Art. The Museum is hosting this fair to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Ballantine House. Built in 1883, Jeannette and John Ballantine hired architect George Edward Harney to design this 27-room, three-story home for the family. Newark craftspeople built and decorated the House, completed in 1885, using complex techniques and the finest materials. Between 2021 and 2023, the Museum undertook a comprehensive, period-accurate project to restore the exterior and interior, engaging local contractors and conservators.
In honor of the re-opening of The Ballantine House, we celebrate like the Ballantines might have. Enjoy carnival games, fun fair foods, art making, special demonstrations, and more. The entire celebration event spans from 12-5 pm, and Keys 2 Success has been invited to perform in the main hall from 2-3 pm.
In addition to our students performing solos and ensemble pieces, this program will feature Keys 2 Success Board Member Phil Bingham. If you haven't seen Phil in action yet, this event is not to be missed!
The event is free, but registration is required. Please click here to tell us you're coming. Hope to see you there!
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It is now fundraising season! Each year, Keys 2 Success has been expanding our budget to serve more students, at more sites, and on more days. The results clearly show themselves with each new student falling in love with piano! This fall, we aim to raise $240,000 by December 31, 2023. Our intermediate goal is to raise $190,000 by Giving Tuesday. Please help us achieve this goal by donating today!
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