Curriculum Vitae

Maren Daynes, M.M., NCTM
Concert Pianist | Piano Educator | Collaborative Artist

Degrees & Certifications​

2026 | Master of Music in Piano Performance, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4.0 GPA

2024 | Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, summa cum laude, Utah Valley University

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

2024 | Certificate in Piano Pedagogy, Utah Valley University

2023 | Certificate in Collaborative Piano, Chamber Music, Utah Valley University

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Performance Experience​

2025 | Concerto Soloist with Sinfonietta Vidin, Bulgaria — Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 4

2023 | Chamber Music Performance at Carnegie Hall, New York City — Brahms, Piano Trio No. 3, first movement

2023 | Gijón International Piano Festival, Spain — Piano Marathon Performance, Beethoven, Sonata No. 28 in A Major, selections

2023 | Eastern Music Festival Young Artist Recital — Messiaen, Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus, XV. “Le baiser de l’Enfant-Jésus”

2023 | Eastern Music Festival Chamber Performance — Debussy, Piano Trio in G Major, third movement

2023 | Eastern Music Festival Chamber Performance — Bruch, Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, selections

2023 | Eastern Music Festival Chamber Performance — Dvořák, Slavonic Dance No. 1 in C Major, Op. 46

2022 | Concerto Soloist with the Utah Valley Symphony — Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 2, first movement

2022 | Pianist, General Authority Luncheon, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT

2022 | Performance with Time for Three and the Utah Valley University Symphony Orchestra — original compositions by Time for Three

2022 | Performance of Márquez, Danzón No. 2, with the Utah Valley University Symphony Orchestra

2022 | Utah Valley University School of the Arts Honors Recital for NASM

2022 | Utah Valley University Awards of Excellence Night

2021 | Virtual Collaborative Piano Recital with the Communication University of Zhejiang, China — Dvořák, Slavonic Dances, selections

2021 | Unveiling of the Utah Valley University Concert Hall

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Festivals & Academies
2025 | International Musicians Academy, Bulgaria

2023 | Gijón International Piano Festival, Spain

2023 | Eastern Music Festival, North Carolina

2019 | BYU Young Musicians SummerFestival, Utah

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Collaborative Piano & Opera Experience​

2026 | Pianist, Desert Singers Las Vegas, Rooted & Rising

2026 | Pianist, UNLV Opera Workshop, Organic Chemistry

2025 | Pianist, UNLV Opera Workshop, Crime and Punishment

2025 | Pianist, Desert Rose Choral Festival, Las Vegas

2025 | Pianist, UNLV Opera Workshop, Fêtes and Follies!

2024 | Pianist, UNLV Opera Workshop, Queen of Hearts

2024 | Pianist, VOX Femina Los Angeles and Desert Singers Las Vegas, Suffrage Cantata

2024 | Pianist, UNLV Choirs, Winter Concert

2024 | Pianist, UNLV Choirs, Kaleidoscope

2023-24 | Member of the Wolverine Piano Trio at Utah Valley University

2017-20 | Pianist, Timpview High School A Cappella Choir

2017 | Pianist, Timpview High School Sorella Voce Choir​​​

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Competitions & Awards​

2026 | Grand Prize, Vivaldi International Music Competition
2025 | First Place, World's Best Musicians Classical Music Competition
2025 | Second Place, American Soloist International Music Competition
2025 | Third Place, Piano Competition Online, 11th Edition
2024 | Second Place, Charleston International Contemporary Music Competition
2023 | First Place, Young Collaborative Pianists Competition
2023 | Finalist, American String Teachers Association–Utah Chamber Competition
2023 | Certificate of Excellence, UVU School of the Arts
2022 | First Place, American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition
2022 | First Place, Charleston International 17th Century Music Competition
2022 | First Place, Great Composers Concerto Series
2022 | Second Place, Charleston International Winter Music Competition
2022 | Honorable Mention, UMTA Concerto Competition
2022 | Alternate, UVU Concerto Competition
2021 | Winner, Utah Valley Symphony Concerto Competition
2021 | Second Place, Young Collaborative Pianists Competition
2018, 2020 | Superior Ratings, Utah State Solo & Ensemble Festival

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Scholarships & Academic Honors

2024-26 | Graduate Assistantship, Collaborative Piano, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2024 | Graduate Recruitment Scholarship, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2023-24 | Erlyn and Duane Madsen Scholarship Endowment, Utah Valley University

2023-24 | Marie Gappmayer Endowed Scholarship, Utah Valley University

2023 | Young Artist Merit Award, Eastern Music Festival

2023 | Work-Study Award, Eastern Music Festival

2020-23 | Exceptional Performance Scholarship, Utah Valley University

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Contemporary & Media Performance

​2020 | Featured Pianist, Saving Grace — Kodaline, music video featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Dublin Gospel Choir, Voices of Service, and others

2021 | Keyboardist, The Keystones — Utah Valley University LDS Institute
2022 | Pianist, Going Home — Melody Reid, studio recording

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Adjudication

2026 | Adjudicator, NFMC Junior Festival, Las Vegas

2024 | Adjudicator, Las Vegas Music Teachers Association Ensemble Festival

2024 | Adjudicator, Salt Lake City Piano Competition

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Masterclass Performances

2025 | Jeanne Hourez

2025 | Mi-Eun Kim

2024 | Fry Street Quartet

2023 | Awadagin Pratt

2023 | Santiago Rodriguez

2023 | Lisa Moore

2022 | Jason Hardink

2021 | Liza Stepanova

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Guest Teaching & Masterclass Presentations

2026 | McQueen High School, Reno

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Research & Presentations​

2026 | "Fauré: Art Songs," MUSE 572: Accompanying, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2026 | "Schubert: Die Winterreise," MUSE 572: Accompanying, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2025 | "Alma Mater: 19th Century Art Songs," MUSE 572: Accompanying, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2024 | "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

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

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

2021 | "Double Escapement," Utah Music Teachers Association Conference

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Research Grants

2025 | Graduate and Professional Student Association Sponsorship Program Grant for Concerto Performance in Bulgaria, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2025 | U2 Sponsorship Grant, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2023 | Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant for Carnegie Hall Performance, Utah Valley University

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Leadership Roles

2026-27 | Treasurer, Northern Nevada Music Teachers Association

2026-27 | Social Media Manager, Northern Nevada Music Teachers Association

2025-26 | Vice President of Membership, Las Vegas Music Teachers Association

2025-26 | President, UNLV Music Teachers Association

2024-26 | Competition Committee Member, Nevada Music Teachers Association

2024-25 | Vice President, UNLV Music Teachers Association

2023-24 | President, UVU Music Teachers Association

2022-23 | Vice President, UVU Music Teachers Association

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