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Carnegie Hall, December 2023

Biography

Maren Daynes, NCTM, is an accomplished concert pianist, educator, and award-winning performer recognized for her versatility in solo, collaborative, and concerto settings. A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano, she is committed to cultivating the next generation of musicians through both performance and pedagogy.

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Maren holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she served as a graduate assistant in collaborative piano. In this role, she worked extensively with the opera department and choral ensembles while also teaching undergraduate piano majors.

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Her international performance résumé includes appearances at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain. She has performed as a concerto soloist with Sinfonietta Vidin in Bulgaria, presenting Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto, and with the Utah Valley Symphony in Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto. She has also been featured at the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina. As a collaborative pianist, she performed Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances for two pianos with the Communication University of Zhejiang in China.

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Maren is a top prizewinner in numerous competitions, including First Prize in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, the Utah Valley Concerto Competition, and the Young Collaborative Pianists Competition. She has also earned Second Place in both the American Soloist International Music Competition and the Charleston International Contemporary Music Competition. In recognition of her leadership and service, she received a Certificate of Excellence from the Dean of Utah Valley University’s School of the Arts for her commitment to inclusivity and community engagement.

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She earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, summa cum laude, from Utah Valley University, along with certificates in Piano Pedagogy and Collaborative Piano. Her studies have been guided by distinguished teachers, including Dr. Timothy Hoft, Dr. Hilary Demske, Dr. Gerta Wiemer, Dr. Koji Attwood, Nicolette Bird, and Mariah Sam.

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An active participant in masterclasses, Maren has worked with internationally renowned pianists such as Awadagin Pratt, Santiago Rodriguez, and Mi-Eun Kim. She has also presented research at conferences hosted by the Utah Music Teachers Association and the Utah Conference of Undergraduate Research, with topics ranging from rhythm pedagogy to the intersection of research and competitive performance.

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Through her performances, research, and teaching, Maren Daynes continues to establish herself as a dynamic performer and dedicated educator within the classical music community.

Degrees, Certifications, and Awards

Degrees and Certifications

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

  • Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Utah Valley University (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: American Soloist International Music Competition (2025)

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

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

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

  • 3rd Place: Piano Competition Online, 11th edition (2025)

  • 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)

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Scholarships

  • Graduate Assistantship in Collaborative Piano, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2024–2026)

  • 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

  • Collaborative Pianist for Rooted & Rising, Desert Singers Las Vegas (2026)

  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas Opera Workshop Production: Crime and Punishment (2025)

  • Collaborative Pianist for Desert Rose Choral Festival, Las Vegas (2025)

  • Concerto Soloist with Sinfonietta Vidin, Bulgaria (2025)

  • International Musicians Academy, Bulgaria (2025)

  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas Opera Workshop Production: Fêtes and Follies! (2025)

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

  • Collaborative Pianist for VOX Femina Los Angeles: Suffrage Cantata (2024)

  • Collaborative Pianist for 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 for NASM (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

  • Jeanne Hourez (2025)

  • Mi-Eun Kim (2025)

  • Awadagin Pratt (2023)

  • Santiago Rodriguez (2023)

  • Lisa Moore (2023)

  • Jason Hardink (2022)

  • Liza Stepanova (2021)

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Research, Presentations, and Grants​

  • U2 Sponsorship Grant, UNLV (2025)​

  • Graduate and Professional Student Association Sponsorship Program Grant for Concerto Performance in Bulgaria, UNLV (2025)

  • 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, UVU (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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Leadership Roles

  • Vice President of Membership, Las Vegas, Nevada Music Teachers Association (2025–2026)

  • President, UNLV Music Teachers Association (2025–2026)

  • Vice President, UNLV Music Teachers Association (2024–2025)

  • President, UVU Music Teachers Association (2023–2024)

  • Vice President, UVU Music Teachers Association (2022-2023)

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©2026 Maren Daynes

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