PIANIST, 7, PROVES A CLASSIC GIANT-KILLER
UAE boy impresses judges in Paris competition with his Mozart and Bach renditions against youngsters twice his age
A Dubai pupil, 7, has won first prize in a piano competition in Paris despite competing against children up to double his age.
Claudius Tyacke, who began playing piano two and a half years ago, won first prize in the competition at the Conservatoire Slave de Musique music school last Monday.
His teacher, Shakhnoza Umarova, 27, from Uzbekistan, entered the youngster in the competition because she felt he was getting bored with standard music exams.
“I thought it would be good experience for him. We were taking a risk because he was still a little young for this type of thing but it worked well,” said Mrs Umarova, who teaches at World Music Centre, Dubai.
She said he took part in a group for children with less than three years of playing experience and performed two pieces – Prelude in D minor by Bach and Mozart’s Sonata in C major.
He was the youngest in his group “by far”, said his mother, Kristiane Tyacke.
“The other children were 12, 13, 14 and 15. There was a boy who was six-foot tall,” Mrs Tyacke said.
But Claudius was not intimidated by the competition, she said. “I was much more nervous than he was. He is always very calm.”
Claudius said he was very proud, and a little surprised, to have won first prize.
“The other people were double my size,” he said.
He said he liked playing fast pieces in particular. “I like to challenge myself.”
Mrs Tyacke said they learnt that he had won a prize only after they left the conservatory because Claudius was very tired. “It was quite late and he was tiring,” she said. “Shakhnoza, his teacher, said she would wait until the results were out. I even said to her, ‘what’s the point?’”
She said they were all very surprised and pleased that he won the prize.
Mrs Umarova said the judges were very impressed by his ability.
“The judges came to us, congratulated us and said he did a very good job and maybe has a very good future in music,” she said.
Claudius, a Year 2 pupil at North London Collegiate School in Dubai, started playing piano after developing an interest in the keyboard at home.
“He always liked playing it,” said Mrs Tyacke, who has three other children – one aged 4 and 10-year-old twins. “His older brothers went to the same music school in Dubai. They did flute and violin. He always wanted to play the piano.
“When he was little you didn’t have to force him or anything. He enjoys doing it. And obviously practises regularly but not over the top. He is also very sporty. It’s not like he’s being pushed to play for hours and hours.”
Mrs Umarova said that she would continue working with Claudius.
“I want him to perform at a lot of concerts. We won’t stop,” she said.