Student Spotlight: Celia Margaret Fillier Steele

Having a deep appreciation for their own musical upbringing, Celia’s parents wanted their children to have a strong musical education. Celia began learning piano at age 3 and has now been a student at the Music Institute of Chicago for 10 years, currently studying with Elaine Felder.

“Music plays a huge role in our family’s life,” shares Celia’s mother. Alongside Celia, her brother Luke plays the cello, and her sister Esme plays violin and sings. Music is always playing in their home, they regularly attend live performances, and even take music themed road trips together.

“It allows me to express myself and my love for music,” Celia shares about playing piano. “I am able to see and hear myself improve every time I sit down at my piano which encourages me to keep going. Playing in as well as watching my peers play in recitals, studio classes, and masterclasses also motivates me to keep going and keep getting better.”

Along the way, piano has shaped more than just her musicianship. "Learning piano has allowed my confidence to grow tremendously through all the recitals I have performed in. It has taught me persistence, patience, and discipline through learning and mastering new pieces." 

For Celia, the greatest reward comes after months of practice. “What I enjoy most about playing piano is mastering a piece that I have spent months learning and working on,” she says. “Once I have a piece learned and memorized, all that is left is perfecting it and incorporating musicality into it. Although this may sound easy, it is probably the hardest part but also the most rewarding. Even though I could be playing all the right notes, incorporating musicality into the piece is what brings it to life.”

One piece stands out in particular. "I was especially proud to learn Gardens in the Rain by Debussy. Although this piece was challenging, I felt very proud once I had finished and performed it. It is probably one of the most technically challenging pieces that I have played but was very satisfying to accomplish."

In her time at MIC, Celia has participated in a variety of musical experiences, including Chamber Music for four years, the Chicago Duo Piano Festival for three summers, and Advanced Piano Camp for the first time this year.

“We believe the opportunity to play and collaborate with other musicians is incredibly important, especially for piano players who typically play solo,” shares Celia’s mother. “In Chamber and Duos, players really need to listen to each other, it teaches non-verbal communication and fosters teamwork.”

As part of Chamber Music and the Chicago Duo Piano Festival, Celia has had the opportunity to work with her duo partner, Angie. “Being part of a piano duo is such a wonderful and unique experience that I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of,” says Celia.

This year, she also attended Advanced Piano Camp, where she was able to learn from various teachers. “This opportunity allowed me to hear from the teachers about each of their different ideas and perspectives on the pieces I was learning,” she shares.

In the 10 years of lessons, both Celia and her mother have fond memories. Celia recalls seeing her teachers perform together at the Chicago Duo Piano Festival Faculty Extravaganza as one of her favorite memories. “These concerts have always been one of my favorite parts of the festival and are probably some of my favorite musical memories/performances,” she says. “I am able to see all the teachers that I have learned from and gotten to know play with their friends and create incredible music together for everyone.”

For Celia’s mother, the favorite memories come from watching her daughter grow alongside her teacher. “Elaine has been an incredible mentor, teacher and coach to Celia over the years,” she shares. “Her passion and dedication to the success of her students is something very special. I can think of many moments during lessons, studio classes, performances where Celia’s growth in a moment of musical expression was undeniable. Elaine always notices and celebrates these moments! “

Reflecting on Celia's musical journey, her mother points to the life skills music has fostered. "There are so many meaningful things but to choose one, I would go with the life skills that learning an instrument and playing with others instills: like resiliency (mastering a difficult piece), problem-solving, setting goals and learning how to handle constructive feedback."

Outside of music, Celia enjoys spending her weekends at the barn, where she rides horses and works. She has previously competed in horse shows and will do so again this summer. She also has an interest in math and science and hopes to become a doctor someday. As Celia continues to explore her interests, the skills and experiences she has gained through music will continue to support her along the way.

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