Carnival of the Animals - Megan and Melody Yip, Duo-pianists

Twelve year-old Megan Yip started her piano studies at age four with her mother, and continued her studies with Dorothy Fahlman. Megan has won many awards from the Oregon Music Teachers Association's Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Festivals since she was six, and has also won in the Trula Whelan Piano Concerto Competition. This April, Megan won the Tom O'Brien Competition for the junior age group. In past summers, Megan was selected to perform in the Portland Piano International and OMTA's State Convention where she played with the master class teachers Paul Roberts and Marvin Blickenstaff. At age 11, Megan had her orchestral debut with her older sister, Melody, where they were invited to play the entire Carnival of the Animals with the Portland Columbia Symphony in Gresham, Oregon, under the baton of Huw Edwards.

Megan also plays cello and has been in the Portland Youth Philharmonic since she was eight. She has been the assistant principal of the Young String Ensemble and the principal cellist of the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra. This year she became the youngest cellist in the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2006, Megan won first prize in the Oregon Cello Society's Scholarship Audition. Megan is also involved in chamber music as she is part of the Yip Trio, formed with her two other siblings.

In her spare time, Megan enjoys reading new music, miming, or talking to her friends. She also loves ballet and has been studying at June Taylor School of Dance since she was six. Being home schooled for most of her life, Megan is now a seventh grader at Summa Academy at Meadow Park Middle School.

Thirteen year-old Melody Yip started her piano lessons at age five with her mother, and has been studying with Dorothy Fahlman since age six. Music has always been the center of her life. She has been a winner in the Ensemble, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Festivals organized by the Oregon Music Teachers Association. She has also been a winner in the Trula Whelan Piano Concerto Competition in 2005; and in 2007 and 2008, Melody placed second in both the East and Michaels Competition and Suzanne Raines Competition. She was also selected to play in Paul Roberts' master class with the Portland Piano International. Last year, Melody made her orchestral debut with the Portland Columbia Symphony, performing the entire Carnival of the Animals with her sister under the baton of Huw Edwards. The sisters are invited to perform the Carnival of the Animal this October with the Portland Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Yaacov Bergman.

Melody started violin lessons when she was five. She has been a member of the Portland Youth Philharmonic since she was eight. Together with her siblings, Melody performs in a chamber music group called the "Yip Trio" with performances at the Cascade Music Festival, State Ensemble Festival, and the"Mozart Celebration" hosted by the Portland Chamber Orchestra.

Melody is an enthusiastic reader and writer. Last year, Melody won a writing contest and was chosen by her school to represent the Beaverton School District in the Oregon Writing Festival. Melody has studied ballet since age five and obtained distinction from the Royal School of Dance of London in her dance exams. Melody is an eighth grader at Summa Academy at Meadow Park Middle School and is on the Principal's Honor Roll.