10-year-old Chandler musician to perform original work in world concert

PHOENIX — A talented Chandler musician is about to represent the United States in the concert of a lifetime on the other side of the globe — and she’s 10.

Kylie Smith, a fifth-grader at Carlson Elementary School, submitted one of 11 entries chosen to play at the Yamaha Music Foundation’s 43rd International Junior Original Concert in Tokyo this October. Her competition was more than 35,000 entries submitted from 41 countries.

The concert is designed to give students at Yamaha music schools an opportunity to perform their original compositions. Kylie, who learns music at the East Valley Yamaha Music School, wrote her piece, called “Double Trouble Makers” for piano and violin accompaniment.

She has been playing piano since she was 3 years old, when she was inspired by a piano at the Chandler Public Library.

“I tried it out and I was like, ‘I love this! I want to try to play this more and more and more,'” she said.

In an interview with AZ Family, Kylie said she continues to work hard at her piano and composition skills because of the expressive nature of music.

“I love the piano because you can just express what you really love to do,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about misspelling or mispronouncing words. You just have to play. You just have to listen.”

After a performance of her piece for her elementary school on Monday, Kylie will now prepare for her Tokyo trip. A talented kid in for a special experience, she’s sure not to miss a beat.

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