Young Pianist Began at Wyckoff Y Now Plays at Carnegie Hall

Sophia Oliver, a fourth-grade student from Ridgewood had the opportunity of a lifetime recently by performing at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York City on Jan 20, 2019.

Sophia undertook private piano lessons at the Wyckoff YMCA as a 5-year-old. After an introduction to a professional piano broker by a member of the Wyckoff YMCA’s office staff, Sophia’s father, a Wyckoff native, purchased a piano so Sophia could augment her lessons with daily practice. Sophia’s current piano teacher is Shelia Huang of The Melody Music Institute of Wyckoff and Saddle Brook and under Shelia’s guidance and encouragement, Sophia was recommended to participate in The Crescendo International Music Competition.

The Crescendo International Music Competition is a non-profit organization that guides young individuals as they develop musical talent and it also inspires young musicians to acquire positive character traits that will guide children through adulthood. In 2018, the organization received more than 5000 applications for participation in the group’s annual Winners Recitals. Only first and second place winners of regional competitions are then invited to perform a recital at one of a few prestigious worldwide Winners Recital locations.

Sophia qualified for the Crescendo International Carnegie Hall Winners Recital after her first-place piano performance at a regional Crescendo International Little Mozart’s Competition held at Caldwell University, Caldwell NJ on November 24, 2018.

For the Crescendo International Competition, Sophia performed M. Clementi’s Sonatina Op.35 No.5 and as a result, Sophia was awarded a cash price by the judges for her inspiring Carnegie Hall Recital performance.

In addition to her passion for the piano, Sophia is a member of the PGA Junior Golf Association and also enjoys dance, soccer, skiing, yoga and reading.