Jeffrey Shen, a supreme pianist and an astounding student, has recently been accomplishing great feats through his fingertips. Mr. Shen is currently a senior at Pitman High School; he has demonstrated his great piano abilities in a variety of Pitman High events. Jeffrey has been actively involved in PHS’s music programs; he was a member of Jazz Band and a member of the PHS Orchestra. For years now Jeffrey Shen has received lofty awards and warm recognition for his talent, but despite his stardom, Jeffrey maintains a humble demeanor and a courteous attitude.
Jeffrey has been playing the piano for eight years, which is a great amount of time, but the sound of his music makes this simple fact appear to be wrong. The sound of his music is so beautiful, leaving a delicate impression in the ears of those who listen, that it sounds as if Jeffrey Shen has been playing piano for a lifetime. He reveres the piano for its musical foundation; he believes that the piano is the most popular spring of creativity. In regards to music composers, Jeffrey remembers that some of the greatest composers were pianists; for example, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, and Chopin. Jeffrey works hard to sustain his musical abilities and he says that “the beauty of music and the passion within certain pieces” is what fuels his steadfastness when practicing piano.
On average, Jeffrey practices piano for one hour a day, but when he has more time open, he is able to practice for 40 hours in a week. Playing piano is an important aspect in Jeffrey’s life, but he never forgets his most important life aspect, academics. He has a great love for the piano, but he believes that school is his first priority because it is his future. Jeffrey’s focus on school is the epicenter of all of his academic potential and his parents praise him for his outstanding academic abilities.
Shen’s talent has been spread throughout various Pitman High school events, allowing a multitude of individuals to witness his abilities. Last year, Jeffrey Shen preformed on the piano for the Pitman High Drama Department musical called Flapper. What Jeffrey enjoyed most about this 1920s styled musical was simply having fun with his friends and being around individuals who shared similar interests.
In 2009, while he was in Jazz Band, Jeffrey was named Outstanding Jazz Soloist. For an incredible four consecutive years, Shen has been bestowed honors at the MTAC Stanislaus Branch Baroque Festival and honor recital. There is no doubt that Jeffrey’s talent is something that deserves a great sense of recognition, but Jeffrey feels that recognition is not essential in the making of an artist. Jeffrey believes, “An artist does not need honors to know he is an artist. As a musician I try to understand music and express it as beautifully and as musically as I can.”
Music does not acknowledge rewards or honor, it only knows its beauty and Jeffrey only wants its complex beauty to be shown to people, he does not seek magnificent recognition. In Jeffrey’s freshman year of high school, he performed at his own debut. At this recital, he performed Bach’s fifteen two part inventions by memory! Jeffrey is also the winner of Modesto Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition of 2010 and on May 16th he will perform at the Gallo Arts Center, playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.1. More recently, on the 23rd of February, Shen had a piano recital at the First United Methodist Church of Turlock.
Jeffrey Shen is auditioning for a Certificate of Merit called Young Artist Guild; it is only given to the most talented high school pianists in the state of California. Jeffrey anticipates his participation with a sense of joy because as a CM student he has the opportunity to perform and share his music in recitals. He does not need the Certificate of Merit to prove his musical strengths, he says, “The Certificate of Merit is but a piece of paper and is less important than my musical ability”.
Jeffrey Shen has a Youtube account, http://www.youtube.com/user/JZS713#p/u/4/6oKS3M5DQVU, where he displays videos of himself playing the piano. Some of his videos have over 80,000 views and viewers post very uplifting and encouraging comments, but Jeffrey says that he feels most encouraged when his friends come and watch him play the piano. Jeffrey takes part in a variety of other activities, he adores spending time with friends, watching movies with family, running, and even solving Rubik’s Cubes! Jeffrey Shen maintains a humble life goal, he does not aim for stardom or great fortune; he says that he simply wants to be “a caring father and loving husband”.
In Shen’s short lifetime he has gone through a series of trials that test his character and musical abilities and it seems that he has dominated every trial, walking out with rewards and honors. The list of his accomplishments appears to be infinite, but it never clouds his genuine character. The flow of his music from his golden hands is relaxing and hypnotic; it is easy to understand why Jeffrey has had so much success. Jeffrey Shen is the definition of a true artist.