Everyone is familiar with Mozart and his music. But not all are familiar with the fact that Mozart was a child prodigy, at age 3, he was picking out chords on the harpsichord, at age 4 playing short pieces and at age 5, composing.
Below, we explore today's outstanding generation of child prodigies.
Sohyun Ko
SoHyun Ko is a 13-year-old violinist currently studying at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division. She began studying violin at the age of 4 at the Korean National Institute for the Gifted in Arts. She has won many first prizes at various competitions including The Adelphi Orchestra Sixteenth Annual Young Artist Competition and Mastmedia's 17th Korean Strad Concours.
She gained widespread attention after a Youtube video made by the channel TwoSetViolin highlighted her performance of Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen.
2. Alma Deutscher
Alma Elizabeth Deutscher not only plays the piano, she composes and plays the violin too. At age 5, she composed her first piano sonata and a short opera 'The Sweeper of Dreams' at the age of 7. Two years later, at age 9, she wrote a concerto for violin and orchestra. She then went on to write her first full length opera, Cinderella which had its premiere in Vienna in 2016. Alma Deutscher has also won multiple awards including the European Culture Prize in a ceremony at the Vienna State Opera.
3. Brandon Niederauer
Brandon Niederauer, born 2003, is an American guitarist who has starred in the musical School of Rock on Broadway. Before reaching the age of 15, Brandon has played guitar with multiple legendary musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Lady Gaga and Buddy Guy. In 2019, Brandon gained widespread attention when he played the National Anthem on guitar at Wrigley Field before a Chicago Cubs game.
4. Justin A Wilson II - LJ
Justin Wilson II aka Baby Boy Drummer is a child prodigy on the drums. Only 6 years old, Justin has gone on to drum at TheEllenShow, The Gruv Live Concert and at the Warriors NBA Game. His love for music and musical ability started when his father, an accomplished musician, made sure that he was exposed to complex and unique melodies and rhythms. Today, Justin's favourite music genres include jazz, gospel and classical. His Facebook page has garnered over 200k likes and over 450k followers on Instagram.
5. Angelina Jordan
Angelina Jordan is a Norwegian child singer who went viral when she sang "Gloomy Sunday" in the style of Billie Holiday at age seven, on Norway's Got Talent. She went on to win the competition with her performance of George Gershwin's "Summertime". She has performed at multiple venues including the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, The O2 Arena in London and the Brilliant Minds conference in Stockholm in front of former US president Barack Obama. In 2020, she competed in the second season of America's Got Talent: The Champions, performing an original rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, which received a golden buzzer - meaning Jordan would pass directly into the finals.
Zoe is an avid fan of all kinds of music. Her primary instrument is the guitar but she is always passionately learning how to play other instruments such as the drums and keyboard. She is currently playing the bass guitar in a band and has been routinely involved in music since she was a child.