Bobcat Stories

Bosque School student Daniel Choi, a Bosque School freshman and the son of math teacher Hannah Choi, traveled very far from home to perform at the White House during the 2025 holiday season. The annual tradition brought volunteers from across the country to decorate the public rooms and to perform holiday music for the thousands of guests who visit during December. According to the White House, 26 volunteer performer groups from 22 states were selected to share their music throughout the season. Group sizes ranged from solo performers to ensembles of more than 30 members, featuring choirs, jazz bands, and instrumentalists whose performances reflected the diversity and richness of American musical traditions.

Daniel has been studying classical piano for the past 12 years, with both Falko Steinbach at UNM and Tatyana Bayliyeva at the Albuquerque Institute of Music. Ms. Bayliyeva encouraged Daniel and his older brother to submit an application and audition tape, and the two were delighted and honored to be selected. Although their audition tape was a duet performance of a classical piano sonata composed by Hanna Kulentry, the White House asked them to come prepared with a suite of traditional holiday songs, including “O Holy Night,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Joy to the World” to fill a two-hour slot in the program. Preparing and rehearsing all this new music was a challenge, as was the timing of their assigned day: Saturday, December 13, the weekend before finals. Nevertheless, the Choi family traveled to Washington, D.C., that weekend with their guests, and Daniel made it back in time to take his exams. A highlight of the experience was playing on a Steinway piano that virtuoso Andrea Bocelli had played the week prior.

Daniel’s passion for the piano began in 5th grade, inspired by the musician Yunchan Lin, who won an international competition at theage of 18.  Since then, Daniel has been to many of his concerts. He practices at least 10 hours a week, more during the lead-up to an event or performance. He says, “Practicing can be fun, but takes a lot of discipline, patience, and repetition.” Daniel’s favorite composers are Liszt, for his energy, drive, and power, and Chopin, for the music’s tenderness and soft beauty.  His favorite piece to play is Chopin’s Ballade 4. 

On stage, he feels comfortable and enjoys showing all his hard work, and he really enjoys expressing himself through piano. He also still plays the cello, the first instrument he learned.  He recently performed with the concert orchestra at the New Mexico 2026 All-State in January.

After graduation, Daniel would like to minor in music, learning music theory and improvisation techniques, and perhaps pursue a career in orthopedics or family medicine. He also would like to design running shoes! 

Hannah Choi had a very nerve-wracking role at the White House performance, not just as a proud mom, but as the duet’s page-turner. She was very happy, humbled, and excited to be there. She believes that, amid conflict and division, music can bring people together, which made the experience very meaningful to her. “Everyone loved listening,” she said, “and we all shared something we love together.”

Congratulations to Daniel and his brother, as well as to the whole Choi family, for being chosen to be part of this prestigious, unifying celebratory event at the White House.