Graycyn Davis, left, and Hannah Claire Davis, won prizes in the statewide Tennessee Federation of Music Clubs competition at Carson Newman College.ABOUT THEMNames: Hannah Claire Davis and Gracyn Davis.Ages: 13 and 11.Schools: Seventh grade at Girls Preparatory School (Hannah Claire) and fifth grade at Boyd-Buchanan School (Gracyn).Favorite movie: "Soul Surfer" (both).Favorite books: "A Love That Multiplies" by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar (Hannah Claire) and "Young Women of Faith: Lily Series" by Nancy Rue.Hobbies: Playing with each other, swimming and transposing popular music to piano.
CLAIM TO FAMESisters Hannah Claire and Gracyn Davis won first-place trophies in the Tennessee Federation of Music Clubs' statewide competition for the concerto and primary/elementary contemporary composer categories.
Like most young musicians, Hannah Claire Davis, 13, and her sister Gracyn, 11, don't like practicing on the piano, but they recognize that it's a necessary evil.
"Playing music doesn't come easily," Gracyn said. "Sometimes I get frustrated and want to scream and bang the notes."
Despite their aversion to doing so, the Davis sisters said they try to spend about an hour a day at the bench of their home piano.
Even if they miss a day here or there, they said they are constantly pushed to excel by their private instructor, Viktoria Lindsay. Gracyn and Hannah Claire began studying under Lindsay three and four years ago, respectively.
Lindsay said that she expects more from the sisters than the other 38 students in her studio because of their innate potential.
"They are above average," she said. "If I don't expect as much of them, they won't work as hard. They have a lot of potential, both of these girls, and I have a lot of expectation."
On March 23, the Davis girls' dedication paid off when they walked away with three first-place awards at a statewide, judged event hosted at Carson-Newman College by the Tennessee Federation of Music Clubs.
Gracyn won the primary contemporary composer competition, which required her to perform three pieces by modern composers from memory. Hannah Claire won the elementary contemporary composer competition and the concerto 1-A competition, which featured a duet with Lindsay.
Hannah Claire has participated in the competition annually for the last three years. Two years ago, she won the concerto and primary composer categories for the first time. This year was Gracyn's second time competing and the first time she has won.
Participating in the TFMC competition required the girls to secure a superior rating, the highest possible, at a local competition in February. Even with all their hard work preparing for the event, however, their nerves nearly got the better of them.
"It's very quiet. Nobody says anything," Hannah Claire said of her March performance. "Nobody claps between songs. The silence is weird."
Winning made all the pressure worth it.
"I like the feeling of accomplishment after it," she continued. "It feels like a weight is lifted off your shoulders."
Lindsay said the Davis girls stand out from other young pianists in that their approach to the instrument is so fluid. Instead of sitting rigidly at the bench and playing mechanically, they flow with the music, which helps convey more emotion.
"They have a lot of artistry in their playing; they're like little artists," Lindsay said, laughing. "They express their feelings in their music."
Like his daughters, Randy Davis grew up playing the piano, though he said he feels like they have already surpassed him.
Because of their diligence, they've both come a long way from the toddlers he remembers singing along to videos of "Barney & Friends."
"Music is part of their souls," Davis said. "I wish I could play the piano like they do, and I've often thought that when I retire, I'll take lessons. Maybe they can teach me."