AN eight-year-old Ardross pianist has won a first prize in an international classical music competition and has been invited to perform at prestigious Carnegie Hall next march.

Ceicilia Limargana started playing piano when she was four-years old, but has blossomed since being taken under the wing of teacher Yoon Sen Lee two years ago.

Already the recipient of a swag of international awards, such as the Best Beethoven Fur Elise Performance in Vienna, she’s also played in Paris, Malaysia and recently returned from China.

• Ceicilia Limargana’s win in an international piano competition is taking her to Carnegie Hall. Photo by Meagan Barrett

Dynamics

The budding Beethoven (he’s a hero) says she’s no longer scared of performing and is usually impatient for her rivals to get off stage so she can get cracking.

Ceicilia practices two to three hours a day and says she likes how pianos express feelings; but her favourite thing is the dynamics.  She’s also a dab hand a clarinet, violin and singing and says outside music her favourite subjects at school are maths, English and art.

Ceicilia is aiming to be a conductor one day, saying all the great composers she’s met have gone on to become great conductors.

Her mother Indra say Ceicilia’s teacher has helped to give her a passion for music, which miraculously extends beyond performing to include practice (even scales).

Ceicilia and her mother will be traveling to Imola, Italy in July next year where she will attend a Summer School at the International Pianists Academy Incontri col Maestro and compete at the International Imola Academy Awards.

by MEAGAN BARRETT