A 5-year-old piano prodigy from West Vancouver wowed the audience at Carnegie Hall on Sunday, playing the challenging Variations on a Russian Theme.
Ryan Wang, who’s had piano lessons for only a year, was invited to play at the Carnegie Hall showcase by American Protégé, an organization that seeks to encourage young musicians.
He won the spot by submitting three videos of himself playing.
According to his mother, Iris Wang, Ryan sang before he could speak and spent hours playing on an electric keyboard before she sent him for formal training.
She told the CBC:
Music is his passion. It’s something… he loves it and he’s willing to do it and willing to learn. As a mom I will support him and follow his passion to be the best.
Ryan said he enjoyed his time in New York, and that he even managed to fit in a trip to the zoo and a museum.
He’s also been invited to perform in Italy and will make an appearance with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.
Check out Ryan Wang – a local Vancouver prodigy pianist who has been invited to Carnegie Hall to perform. ow.ly/j40sx very cool
— Sarah McLachlan (@SarahMcLachlan) March 17, 2013
Ryan Wang putting us all to shame with his style and his talent! twitter.com/CBCEarlyEditio…
— CBCEarlyEdition (@CBCEarlyEdition) March 14, 2013
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5-Year-Old British Columbia Piano Prodigy Plays Carnegie Hall