Henderson pianist wins $10,000 scholarship

Victoria Young sits down at the piano in her apartment, takes a breath, presses her fingers into the keys and lets the music flow through her.

"When I play, I think of the piece I'm playing as a story," Victoria said. "I get to go along with the story. It makes it fun."

Whether it is impressionistic or something from the b aroque period, Victoria, 11, has enjoyed playing for six years.

Victoria was 3 when her mom, Beelee Young, realized she had perfect pitch.

"I would be tuning my harp, and she would be watching TV and say the notes," Young said. "I wasn't going in order. I sat down at a piano and would play the notes, and she would say what they were. If I played a black key, she would say, 'In between C or D,' because she didn't know what sharp or flat was yet."

That talent was beneficial when Victoria started playing piano in Malaysia at 5.

When they moved to Henderson in 2005, Young did some research to find the best teacher for Victoria and discovered Damaris Alvarez.

Young said Alvarez has been a tremendous asset in helping her daughter progress.

"We didn't have a piano, and she opened her doors to us and said (Victoria) could come over anytime," Young said. "I know many times she wouldn't even look at her watch during lessons."

Young received two donated pianos -- the first from a Buddhist organization and the second from a piano tuner named Lorelle Nelson -- for her daughter to continue practicing, transforming what started as a hobby into a passion.

"If I have time, I play for five or six hours a day," Victoria said.

Because of her passion, and talent, Victoria has played at the College of Southern Nevada, with the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, at Carnegie Hall in New York and in the Dominican Republic.

"The day before she played at Carnegie Hall, she kept saying she was nervous," Young said. "But then on the day of the performance, she wasn't nervous at all."

Victoria said it was an experience she won't forget.

"When I sit down to play, I forget about the audience and just play," Victoria said.

As amazing as the competitions and performances have been, even Victoria was surprised when she was chosen to perform on National Public Radio's From the Top, which showcases America's best young musicians , that led to being selected as a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist and a $10,000 scholarship.

"I couldn't stop screaming," Young said.

Young sent in an application because the award is designed to help young musicians with financial problems.

As part of the award, Victoria played for NPR.

The episode was taped before a live audience May 15 at the Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Oklahoma City and was slated to air Sept. 12.

From the Top doesn't air in Nevada , so Victoria and her mom planned to listen online.

The $10,000 scholarship will allow Victoria to pay for all her music needs in the next year from competition costs and airfare to summer music camps.

"I asked for two music books, and they sent them to me within two days," Young said.

Victoria hopes to go to a music camp next summer in Switzerland put on by Homero Francesch, a renowned Swiss pianist.

"She applied for it this year," Young said. "But he had so many applicants, so she didn't get in."

Francesch told Victoria that she should get in next summer .

Young said when people hear Victoria, they assume she is a prodigy.

"It's not that," Young said. "It's the practice. She comes home from school, takes a little break and then practices. After she does her homework, she practices some more."

Victoria hopes to make this her career, becoming a pianist and composer.

For now, she is happy playing in her living room for her mother and her grandmother, who occasionally listens in from Malaysia over Skype.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.