Arts & Entertainment
12-Year-Old Herndon Girl Plays Carnegie Hall
Playing at the world-famous music hall made all the years of study and practice worth it, she said.
It's pretty impressive when you realize one of your life-long dreams by the age of 12.
That's where Herndon seventh-grader Gabrielle Li finds herself today, having just come back from a trip to New York to play piano in front of hundreds at the world-famous Carnegie Hall.
Gabrielle, or "Gaby" as her friends and family call her, was a first-place winner at the 2012-13 season's American Fine Arts Festival International Competition, which garnered her the once-in-a-lifetime gig.
Not only is Gabrielle an accomplished pianist, but she is also a rising young cellist, currently serving as the co-principal of the American Youth Concert Orchestra.
A rising eighth-grader at Rachel Carson Middle School in Herndon, Gaby has been studying piano since she was 6 years old, her family said. She currently studies under Silva Blazquez. The Carnegie Hall spot is just one of a long slew of musical accomplishments and awards under her belt.
But, to date, nothing has matched the thrill of walking across the stage at Carnegie Hall earlier this month. Hearing her name announced was a feeling like no other, she told Patch.
"[I felt] experienced and ready...confident, yet somewhat nervous," she said. "As I strode across the shimmering stage, thunderous applause engulfed me."
She felt fear for just a second as she sat down at the piano, she said, but quickly pushed the thoughts away.
"As I sat on the piano bench, questions swarmed in my head - what if I mess up? What if the piano suddenly gets out of tune? What if I fall off the piano bench?" she recalled. "I took a deep breath, letting confidence in and worry out; rainbows in, butterflies out."
One piece of advice stuck with her, she said.
"I remembered something my friend had told me - when I am all alone on the stage, I am not really alone. God is sitting right next to me," she said. "Lifting my hands onto the piano keys, I smiled and released my music into the evening."
As she moves forward through school, music is definitely something Gaby plans to continue.
"At the end of every performance, whether it be family reunions, school concerts, competitions or recitals, I see everyone smiling like I have filled their hearts with my music," she told Patch. "I know the years of practice and dedication are worth it."
Along with music, Gabrielle's family says she enjoys writing, art, science and tennis, and is very involved in school activities, such as the Technology Student Association, and serving as president of Rachel Carson Middle School's Student Council Association.
Gaby is also committed to serving her community, lending her talents to Pennies for Patients, organizing a fundraiser for patients with leukemia; and Wounded Warriors, helping to create care packages and writing letters to veterans and soldiers. She also frequently visits a local retirement home, Reston’s Tall Oaks, to perform free piano and cello concerts for their seniors.
Do you know Gabrielle and the Li family? Give them a shout-out in the comments below!
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