03 July 2025

Early days


Zachary Li was new to me but he'd started playing piano at 4 and achieved his AMEB Grade 8 at 14 so I shouldn't have been surprised with the effectiveness and commitment from the first notes of the Mozart Sonata that started his concert.  Played from memory, like all the pieces, expressive, firm and confident, quick and loud but also dynamic and nicely balanced hands.  Then followed a JS Bach prelude and fugue and another later form Mendelssohn and an oddly different Pink Nautilus from Michael Kieren Harvey, all handfulls of percussion over the whole 8 octaves and busy and driving and handfuls of arpeggiations.  This was different.  Then a very lovely Samuel Barber with ostinato left hand and a Ballade from Chopin.  Quite a range of styles and all done with musical maturity to my ears.  Then, after thanks and bows, his sister Lillybelle joined him for a four handed encore.  Just stunning and unexpected from such a young performer, a student of Stephanie Neeman.  I wonder are we seeing early days.

Zachary Li (piano) performed at Wesley and encored four-handed with his sister Lillybelle Li (piano).

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