An 11-year-old Mount Royal Conservatory violinist is preparing to play solo at Carnegie Hall in New York City this month.

Read story in Metro here.

Watch Global News story here.

Hear CBC Radio story here.

Young violinist Amilia Hildahl won an honourable mention in this year’s American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition.

The talent competition sees young musicians ages six to 18 from across North America, Europe, China, Korea, Mongolia, Poland, and Russia vying for top spots.

Amilia is taking to the famed concert hall’s stage May 26.

“It doesn’t feel real when I stop and think about it,” said Amilia, who has been a Conservatory student since she was six years old.

“I really do think I was suprised at the outcome. I didn’t think I didn’t have the potential, but I didn’t think I was there quite yet. But it’s something new and different to try out and it paid off,” she said.

Amilia studies violin under Conservatory faculty member Elisabeth Szojka.

She also plays second violin in the Conservatory’s Junior Orchestra under Benn Neumann.

One of the great advantages of studying at the Conservatory is the extensive array of musical activities that provide a complement to private instruction.

“For our string students, an important adjunct to private lessons is our orchestra program – a series of six string ensembles that progress from a child’s first ensemble experience, culminating in the Calgary Youth Orchestra, a full symphonic orchestra that plays professional repertoire,” says Sheldon Nadler, the Conservatory’s Manager of General and Orchestral Programs.

Amilia’s mother, Violetta, submitted an audition recording of Amilia performing Oskar Rieding’s Concertino in G op. 24, Sonata 4 in D minor variation 1 by Johann Christoph Pepusch and Hornpipe by George Coutts.

“I recorded her playing and thought whatever would happen would happen. I was just looking to see what her potential is,” said Violetta.

“She’s been really happy playing the violin and performing, so we’re just very happy she’d been able to reap the rewards. What she does later is up to her. It’s her choice entirely.”

Music runs in the family for three generations: not only is Amilia’s mother Violetta a piano teacher, but her grandmother Isabella is also a violinist and teacher.

“She’s always been around music,” said Violetta. “We’re very happy she’s been exposed to all this her entire life.”

For Amilia, the experience is worth the hard work and is sure to make a lifelong memory.

“I work hard, that’s typically my goal. I work hard and get something done and get my breaks, do whatever else I need to do,” she said.

“I think the violin will always stay as part of my life regardless if I take it on professionally.”

by Sherri Zickefoose, May 12, 2014