He loves a piano: Mario Carlasare loves the piano, and now the 15-year-old is reaping some rewards for being such an avid player.
The Steinway Piano Corp. recently named Carlasare, who lives in Frankfort with parents Marty and Joelyn, as one of the Chicago area’s 20 most promising young pianists of 1997. He received the same honor the year before.
“I am really thrilled with this,” said Carlasare, a sophomore at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights. “It means a lot to me. A lot of my success comes from my teacher (Jean Rauch). I wouldn’t have gotten this without her help.”
Carlasare began taking piano lessons about 10 years ago with Amy Harrison of Hazel Crest, who died a few years ago. For the last five years, he has been working with Rauch, who lives in Tinley Park.
“He is a very gifted young man,” Rauch said. “He has a very strong motivation to do well, and he loves the challenge. From a piano practicing standpoint, he is very tenacious. He will stick to practicing until midnight until he accomplishes what he has set for himself as a goal.”
