Carmel Magazine

042-66 Shortcuts_SU05 Carmel Magazine 7/26/13 8:00 AM Page 6 SHORTCUTS MUSIC Pint-Sized Music Prodigy Delights Local Audiences t's quite possible that in classical music circles, preco- I cious, tow-headed Nicholas Brady will soon become a household name, alongside such early bloomers as Yo Yo Ma, Sergei Prokofiev, Alicia Witt and yes, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. "I would describe Nicholas as a musical prodigy," says Stephanie Brown, his teacher. "He is able to execute pieces at an extraordinarily high level for a child of his age." His age? The young violinist will be 5 years old on December 31. In July, Nicholas became the youngest performer in 76 years of the Carmel Bach Festival. As of this writing, he's well past the second book of the Suzuki Violin Method series. Brown predicts he will breeze through book four (out of ten) by the end of 2013. "What sets Nicholas apart," she says, "is his exceptionally fast rate of learning." While most student's learning curve flattens as the mate- rial becomes more difficult, "Nicholas' rate of learning has accelerated—and continues to." But don't get the idea that this boy spends all day prac- ticing. He's very much the rambunctious 4-year-old, as will- ing to rummage through a box of toys with his sister as he is to sight-read a Bach minuet. Nicholas' parents, Dennis and Alina Brady, have pretty much given him his freedom, not pushing him into playing the violin (or the piano, which he took up as well). "I think Nicholas would be a wonderful musician, if he were to choose that," says his mother. "I would like to see him gain confidence through achievement and dedicated work." Dennis talks about Nicholas serving to warm the rela- tionship between Russia and the United States through the universal language of music. "I think he would make a great little ambassador, as he also speaks Russian," he says. Photo: Kelli Uldall Lofty goals. And this little dude hasn't even hit pre- Four-year-old Nicholas Brady is the youngest performer ever to play at the 76-year-old Carmel Bach Festival. A violinist and pianist, he can sight-read classical music pieces. 52 C ARMEL MAGAZINE•SUMMER/FALL 2013 school yet. Nicholas performs regularly during Sunday services at the Church of the Wayfarer in Carmel. To view videos of past performances, visit www.bellaquattrostrings.com and click "Nicholas Brady —Violin Prodigy." —Michael Chatfield

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