9-year-old B.C. pianist heading to Toronto for prestigious North American festival
Nine-year-old Joshua Wang's love for playing piano began as a pandemic pastime. Now, he's been chosen from among scores of Canadian musicians to take the stage at a prestigious Toronto festival.
"I decided I would record a piece every week for my friends and family to enjoy during the pandemic," Wang told CTV News.
"I love how I can share my love of music with friends and family."
His mother, Lei Cao, said it's been a pleasure watching her son develop his skills and pursue his passion.
"I can see he build up his self-confidence, resilience and fulfilment," said Lei Cao, Wang's mother.
The New Westminster pianist has now been recognized by the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Wang, along with seven other B.C. pianists have been selected as finalists in the inaugural Music Lights the Way Festival. It's an all-ages, all-levels event that received more than 8,000 applicants across North America. Only a few dozen were selected for the finals.
Wang is one of four finalists in his Level 8 category.
"It's hard to believe it's a nine-year-old playing because the playing is already refined," said Janet Lopinski, senior director of the college of examiners and academic programs at the Royal Conservatory. "There's a beautiful sound, beautiful pacing."
Wang said he was overwhelmed when he learned he was chosen.
"I didn't think I could go very far but when I heard I got to the finals I was like, 'What?!'" he said
"I'm having a million emotions all at once. Like, I’m being nervous, I’m being happy, I’m being excited and a bunch more emotions.”
Lopinski says B.C. had the most finalists selected of any province. While the event is judged and prizes can be won, Lopinski says the inaugural event is about promoting music for people of all skill levels and ages.
“We really do believe in the transformative power of music to change people’s lives," she said.
Wang flies out to Toronto where he'll perform Tuesday at Koerner Hall in front of a panel of judges. If he wins his category, he will take home a new piano valued at over $10,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.