Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Talented youngster Brent Cataneo Amado’s prowess on the piano continues to captivate music lovers around the world while winning him a chance to perform at one of the most prestigious music halls in the US, writes Mai Al-Khatib Camille.
The American Protégé International Music Talent Competition, which is what Brent entered with a video of him performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca, was open to school students and adults of all nationalities. In fact, this year’s music competition attracted the largest number of applicants on record from more than 70 countries.
The winners chosen in each age category will be able to showcase their skills in venues such as Isaac Stern Auditorium, Zankel Hall and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Last month, the eight-year-old Sacred Heart School student came in third in the highly-competitive Piano and Strings portion, beating out others in the 12 and under age group to land a seat at the ivories in Weill Recital Hall.
“It’s still surreal,” said Brent, a Filipino maestro who has been securing trophies and certificates since his piano-playing journey started during the pandemic. “Not everyone is invited to this famous music hall. The most iconic legends in music have performed on this stage and I’m elated to be added to the list.”
Brent’s recital will be staged at Carnegie Hall, which featured greats such as Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, singer Billie Holiday, Judy Garland and The Beatles, on June 22, 2024.
His parents Brian, who works in sales at a luxury retail outlet, and mum Aileen, couldn’t be prouder.
“We’re extremely happy,” said his mum, from Hoora, who helps teach him how to tickle the ivories along with Lea Nas, a private piano teacher. “If I’m not mistaken, he is the first solo Filipino kid to perform on this stage. Although there are some Filipino youngsters, adults and groups who were able to perform in Carnegie Hall, he is the only Filipino kid who is going to debut his solo in this famous venue.”
Brent, who received the Special Characteristic Performance Award and a bronze in the London Young Musician online classical music competition last year in the eight and under category, is planning on playing the piece that secured his seat - the Rondo Alla Turca.
It is one of the most important works of Mozart which is particularly famous and recognisable by its third movement called Alla Turca, meaning the Turkish March.
Brent surely has a bright future ahead of him as he was also the youngest participant to win the first place in the 2022 Sacred Heart School Bahrain Piano Competition in Junior 2 and 3 Division. He had also secured a bronze medal last year in the online European Classical Music Awards where he competed in the A1 piano category for musicians aged six to seven.
He rehearsed regularly two-hours-a-day and increased the practice time to six hours shortly before the global contest.
“I always try to set a new goal and work harder,” said Brent. “Thinking about this makes me eager and excited for the future because I know I’m competing with the best young pianist prodigies from now on.”
