Students' achievements in 2025

Dear students and parents,

As we are getting closer to the end of 2025, I think it is important to summarize what amazing things we did this year.

First of all, congratulations to all of our students awarded at the prestigious city, provincial, and international competitions:

1) Samarth Ranya (teacher J. Arnautovic, piano), 2 third prizes at the North York Music Festival

2) David Stojanovcki (teacher J. Arnautovic), 2 Honours of Appreciation at the North York Music Festival

3) Viktor Turudic (teacher Jelica Mijanovic, classical guitar), awarded the performance at the Carnegie Hall in New York at the Elite International Music Competition, awarded first prize at the provincial competition (Ontario), 2 first prizes with a golden trophy and scholarship at the North York Music Festival, and 2 first and 1 second prize with a scholarship at the Kiwanis Music Festival

4) Natasha Mijanovic Tariq (teacher Jelica Mijanovic, classical guitar), awarded 3 first prizes at the Kiwanis Music Festival

Second, congratulations to our students who successfully passed the Royal Conservatory Exam: David Stojanovski (Gr 1), Samarth Ranya (Gr 1), Viktor Turudic (Gr 1), and to students who successfully completed all the requirements but didn't take the official RCM exam: A. F. W. (Gr 1), E. S. ( Gr 3), B. S. (Grade 2). 

Third, congratulations to all the students who performed at our recitals throughout the year: Valentine and Halloween virtual recitals, Big Summer Recital, Deer Park School recitals, Heath and Ferndale Daycare recitals, and Long&McQuade fundraising Christmas recitals.  

Finally, and most importantly, congratulations to all our students on the hard work throughout the year and a big thank you to all the parents who are supporting their talented kids on their musical journey. Being a musician is not an easy job to do, and it requires time, money, effort, and will. However, the prize is huge, both short-term and long-term; with learning how to make music, we are learning so many other skills as well: how to perform in public, how to overcome stage fright, how to keep working even when it's hard, how to be consistent, how to set a goal, how to make decisions, and most importantly, how to believe in themselves. Here, at Sunny Day School of Music, we are working not only on learning how to perform, but also how to appreciate and love music, grow and keep working even when it's hard. And I know that we are doing a good thing when I see our students leaving the lesson with a smile (even if they arrived grumpy!). 

So, let's celebrate the success of 2025 and set the goals for even more beautiful music in 2026!

Dr. Jelena/Helen Arnautovic, founder and teacher, Sunny Day School of Music