Payton Mitchell

Staff Writer

Perseverance, the striving to achieve a goal no matter what stands in the way.  There is nothing more satisfying for someone than to accomplish a set goal after overcoming every obstacle thrown their way.

Success is achieved through hard work and dedication, no matter what the area is.  Whether it be performing arts, medicine, law or military, as Dame Julie Andrews puts it, “Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.”

Here at Idaho State University, one faculty member knows the meaning of perseverance and how to strive towards achieving her goals.

Natalia Lauk, a music instructor at ISU, started off her career as a pianist in her native Siberia, Russia, at the age of six. Lauk comes from a long line of pianists in her family, and both of her parents are classically trained players.

In Russia, classical music is a part of the educational system, which is why many famous pianists are Russian. Lauk went on to receive a master’s degree in Russia, but had to quit as she needed a job to support her family.

When Lauk came to Pocatello, she was hired by ISU and became an American citizen in the summer of 2015.  She is an instructor here at ISU and is showcasing a performance of classic piano pieces to raise money for scholarships for students who study piano.

“I believe pre-education needs more classical music,” Lauk said. 

Practice does indeed make perfect.  Lauk also says that no musician/pianist is more successful than the next; it is all a matter of how long they have been playing.

The concert was a “Journey Through the Ages” with Lauk performing music stemming back to the 1700’s and going all the way up to the twenty-first century.  Also, the world premiere of the Russian piece “Seven Mazurkas” was held at the concert here at ISU.

Lauk’s goal with the concert was to introduce Russian music to the community.  She said she wants to show the spirit of Russia, the Russian culture, to show the evils of the Cold War and that Russians and Americans have more in common than is perceived.  Lauk wants to break the barriers of the cultures and to educate people about Russian music. 

The concert was Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Goranson Hall in the Fine Arts Building.  The concert was also streamed live on YouTube and later posted for those who were unable to attend.