Novi Student's 'Dream' Comes True

From NCSD: Those who know Nadia Morman-Williams aren’t surprised by her terrific ear for music. After all, the Novi Middle School student has been playing musical instruments since she was two years old. This summer, the eighth grader – who plays six instruments – has been invited to participate in a prestigious music academy program in Chicago.

Nadia will attend the Sphinx Performance Academy, a full-scholarship intensive chamber music and solo performance program designed to aspire black and Latino string players from ages 12-17.

“This is really a dream come true, because it’s everyone coming from around the world to play music together,” said Nadia, who first started playing piano. “It’s really great. Then when I found it’s in Chicago, I was really excited. I’ve never been to Chicago before so this is an exciting experience, being somewhere new and making new friends.”

An accomplished cello player, Nadia competed last fall in the MSBOA Middle School Solo & Ensemble where she received a first-division rating for her cello solo.

“Musically, Nadia has a great natural ear,” said Sam Hickey, a music teacher at Novi Middle School. “She is particular about intonation and can hear when her instrument is just slightly out of tune, which makes her an incredibly accurate player. Nadia is also very driven in regards to music. She works hard to advance herself independently on her instrument and challenges herself whenever she can.”

It’s not unusual for Nadia to practice the cello at home for 30 minutes, or sometimes an hour, seven days a week. She also receives extra tutoring from cello instructor David LeDoux, who plays in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

“It’s really hard work and dedication,” said Nadia, who carries a 3.5 grade-point average. “You really have to put in the work. You have to put in the work because they only take the people who are going to work hard and achieve their goals.”

To be selected into the Sphinx program, students must write a letter expressing a personal desire to attend the academy; submit two separate videos containing a 3-octave scale, and a 2- or 3-minute piece from a concerto, or etude; and create a repertoire list.

In July, Nadia will travel to Chicago’s Roosevelt University, where she will spend two weeks taking private lessons and working in small groups with world-class musicians, who regularly perform across the country and work with students at prominent music conservatories such as The Julliard School.

Hickey describes Nadia as incredibly humble and a natural leader in the orchestra classroom.

“Her peers respect her knowledge and musical opinions on her instrument and the music that we play in class,” Hickey said. “She never flaunts her advanced playing abilities or knowledge in front of the other students, but always allows herself to be a resource and helps her peers when they ask. I am honored to have had Nadia as a student this year and am very excited to see the doors that being accepted into the Sphinx Performance Academy opens for her.”

Photo courtesy of NCSD ( Nadia Morman-Williams (Photo by Bill Roose/NCSD))