MONTREAL – Students at Royal Vale School in Notre-Dame-de-Grace were in for quite a treat Thursday morning, as a Carnegie Hall-bound pianist graced the stage at the school’s annual holiday concert.
What’s even more surprising, is that the pianist is a 10-year-old student at the school.
Devon Packer a fifth grade student at Royal Vale, has been playing the piano since he was four. When he was six, he started entering and winning competitions.
Earlier this year, Packer won first place in the International Crescendo Competition. The grand prize? Taking part in the Winner’s Recital at Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 30.
Packer told Global News that playing Carnegie Hall was a dream come true.
“Carnegie Hall is where some of my greatest idols have performed,” he said. “It’s a big place for a pianist like me.”
But performing at Carnegie Hall is not where his dreams end. On top of being a concert pianist, Packer hopes to become a composer.
“I have composed a few things, so I dream of being a composer as well,” he said.
His first composition “The fantastical World of Camelot” was published last year at the Canadian Music Centre.
But like his biggest idol, Leonard Bernstein, Packer also has his sights sets on conducting.
His advice to other budding artists: “Follow your dreams, that’s all you have to do!”
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