Emily Bear - Today's Mozart?

Emily Bear's grandmother discovered Emily's talents when the child was just two years old. Little Emily was playing a music scale with three fingers. That may not seem impressive, but if you've ever had the chance to watch a toddler or a small child play - or any non-pianist for that matter - you will notice that they usually poke individual keys with their index finger. However, Emily seemed to be using the correct fingering.

Her grandmother immediately began contacting professional piano instructors, ensuring the child's talents became further developed. At the age of five, Emily began studying piano formally at the Music Institute of Chicago. Now, at the age of 8, Emily studies classical piano with the Principal Keyboardist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mary Sauer. Emily's piano talents are not limited to classical music, however. Emily also studies jazz improvisation with Alan Swain and Yoheved Kaplinsky, the head of the Julliard Piano Department, as a mentor.

One of the most notable gifts that Emily possesses in the area of music is not just her ability to play better than many professional pianists, but her remarkable composition skills. Yes, Emily writes her own music. Emily even has a few piano Songbooks published. That's amazing for a child of only 8 years old.

At the age of 5, Emily made her formal performing debut at the Ravina Music Festival, making her the youngest performer at Ravina's in over 100 years. It was a 40 minute concert in which she performed classical, jazz and original compositions. After that performance, Emily received requests to return for solo concerts, which took place in 2008 and 2009.

Emily's most impressive performance invitation was when she was asked to perform for President Bush, his wife and 400 other guests at the White House. On March 24, 2008, Emily performed a 30 minute solo concert of jazz and original pieces for Mr and Mrs. Bush and the 400 guests. In that year, her original composition "Northern Lights" earned her the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Competition Award. She performed at the awards ceremony in New York City and was asked to perform again at the Lincoln Center.

Emily was invited as a guest on the Ellen Degeneres Show... 6 TIMES over the course of only 2 years. With each performance, she played one of her original compositions and never failed to dazzle the audience. 

At the age of 7, Emily performed a concerto by Mozart with the Rockford Symphony and then with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony. Emily actually compares herself to Mozart, stating that they are similar.

This summer (2010), Emily performed 2 solo recitals in Italy, at the Asissi of the World Festival. She also performed a solo concert in Hangzhou, China. It's no surprise that Emily was invited back to both venues for a performance next year (2011).

Emily played at Noche de Ninos (a gala for Los Angeles Children's Hospital). The gala was hosted by Jennifer Lopez, Arnold Schwarzengger and others, honouring Jamie Lee Curtis. She was featured at the Noble Awards (in LA) and invited by Lang Lang to perform for him at a Master Class hosted by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Emily was also featured at a The Children's Ball, a black-tie gala for the Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago. In addition to that, she performed at many other charity events and fundraisers.

In the September/October 2010 American Girl Magazine, Emily will be featured.

Emily has recorded 4 CDs, all featuring her original compositions. The profits she earns from each CD goes to charities such as UNICEF and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and Chicago.

Emily continues to play the piano today and continues to amaze those who have the honur to hear her play. She has a good heart and wants to share her music for the purpose of helping others. Though Emily is an amazing piano prodigy, she's still a child like any other. She loves to play with her toys and collects stuffed animals.

I know that Emily would change the lives of many and I wish her the best of luck!

Thank you for reading!

For more information, go to: http://www.emilybear.com/