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Young Pianist Is Moscow-Bound

Written By: Melanie D. Hayes, Indianapolis Star

When Hannah Carroll got a keyboard for Christmas several years ago, she didn’t realize it would lead her to Moscow.

“For Christmas, we went to my aunt’s house, and she was giving away keyboards as Christmas presents,” said the 12-year-old  Westfield girl. “I went home and started playing around with it. I was having so much fun that I asked my parents to take piano lessons. After a while of asking them and asking them, they finally said I could.”

Hannah got an old piano from another aunt and began taking classes.Three and a half years later, she is preparing to compete in an international competition at the Moscow Conservatory in March. She is the only pianist representing the United States in the International Russian Rotary Children Music Competition.

After taking lessons with two different teachers, Hannah began hour-long lessons two to three times a week at Gorin’s Music Academy in Carmel. She also practices three hours a day.

Hannah is home-schooled, which she said allows her to balance her schoolwork, piano and chores.”I practice one hour in the morning and two hours after school,” she said. “I enjoy expressing my feelings when I play and just hearing beautiful music and making it myself.”

Irina Gorin, Hannah’s piano teacher, is helping her prepare for the competition, which will include children ages 8-12 from all over the world. Hannah and Gorin learned about the competition through Tatyana Komarova, the executive director of the International Talent Academy in Carmel. The competition is organized through the Rotary Club, of which Komarova is a member.

To pass the preliminary round, Hannah had to send a 30-minute DVD showing off her piano skills.

“Only 15 kids made it from all over the world,” Gorin said. “Only eight are pianists.”

Gorin, a native of Ukraine who has taught piano for 26 years, never has had a student participate in this competition.

“She is a very hard-working student,” Gorin said. “She was very motivated. She wanted to go to Russia. She is at a very advanced level right now. We started with her three years ago — not even — and her progress was so quick I was very surprised. I’ve never had a student that progressed that fast.”

Both Hannah and Gorin know the competition will be tough.During the first round of the competition, Hannah will play three pieces for up to 15 minutes. If she is among the six students to qualify for the finals, she will play with a Russian orchestra.

Hannah will travel to Moscow with her father, Michael Carroll; Gorin; and Komarova. The International Talent Academy is sponsoring Hannah and paying for most of the group’s expenses.This will be Hannah’s first trip outside the United States.

“When I found out I got in, I was really shocked,” Hannah said of the competition. “I knew there would be a lot of hard work ahead, so I was kind of hesitant, but I know it will be a lot of fun, an experience of a lifetime. I’m excited about it but a little nervous. We are going to see if I can play at nursing homes, residence centers, anything that can help prepare me.”

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