Young violin prodigy aims to perform with Lang Lang
WHEN 5-year old violin prodigy Nina Terashima was just 2, she heard Chinese pianist Lang Lang playing Grieg’s
with the Berliner Philharmoniker in Berlin, Germany, and convinced her parents that she wanted to play with him some day.
In February, 2017, while living in the Netherlands, she started to learn to play the violin with Natalia Gabunia, the former first violin player of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.
The girl, born in Tokyo, Japan and now living in Joburg, has since been so committed to playing violin that she practises twice a week with Irene Tsoniff, former co-concertmaster of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
Nina’s father, Itaru Terashima, said she had been surrounded by music from a young age, but they had never pressured her to take on the instrument.
“When she saw Lang Lang in concert, she said she wanted to perform with him. I think she chose the violin because Lang Lang plays the piano.
“She thought she would have a better chance to perform with him if they didn’t play the same instrument,” said the proud father.
The young Crawford Village pupil has notched up several achievements.
Last year, she was the youngest participant in the fourth Gauteng Chamber Music Festival and was selected to attend the main strings festival. The festival, for those between the ages of 7 and 20, is held every December in Pretoria, where children attend four days of workshops and play ensemble music, then in orchestras at the Gala Concert on the fifth day.
Nina, though younger than the required age, auditioned and the judges were so impressed that they allowed her to perform. She even had a solo part.
“Nina is very special,” said Tsoniff. “She is the youngest student I have, but she always tries her best. She is very advanced for her age.”
She said that, in South Africa, children usually started learning an instrument later, when they were around the age of 9, and it was amazing for someone as young as Nina to grasp the instrument.
As well as taking part in the competition, Nina took part in “Superheroes with Teacher Tash” at Crawford and visited an old-age home to play the violin for the residents.
Asked why she chose the violin, a shy Nina said: “I just like it.”
Her mother, Nao Terashima, said: “It is too early to say whether she will pursue music, but right now we just want her to do it as long as she enjoys it. We want her to have an option of music later in life. Music connects people and it is a good way of making friends.”
For a young child, Nina’s diary is full. Apart from playing the violin, she takes French and golf lessons.
“I also like helping my mother bake cookies and making puzzles and playing with Lego,” Nina said.