Sophia Mielke ‘25
Dec 13, 2024
Students at Mercersburg Academy were welcomed into the winter term with a cello piece performed by Thomas Zhu ‘26. Before his return to school for the winter term, Zhu had the honor to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
“If you’ve ever been to New York and asked someone, ‘How do you get to Carnegie Hall?’ you’ll likely hear the famous joke, ‘Practice, practice, practice,’” said Zhu, “With Carnegie Hall being one of the most prestigious concert halls in the world, where historical and modern music giants have performed, it is a testament to one’s dedication and musical excellence. For musicians, Carnegie Hall is the pinnacle of artistic excellence, where the all-time greats in music take honor for performing.”
Zhu won the Pan-American Music Awards, a music competition in which the winners receive the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall. Only thirteen students received the prestigious recognition, and Zhu was shocked to find himself one of them. “I entered the competition without any expectation of winning, so when I received the news that I would perform at Carnegie Hall, it felt like an unexpected gift,” said Zhu.
He continued, “I started learning this piece four years ago and have been working to improve it ever since. To enter the Pan American Music Awards, I ramped up my practice during the summer.”
Of course, the work did not stop when the news came. “A piece of music won’t be ready for Carnegie Hall unless it is exceptionally well-prepared and performed. Once I learned that I made it to Carnegie Hall, the intensity of practice increased even more. I had weekly lessons with Mr. Cameron to receive feedback on my playing technique, sound projection, and musical interpretations,” said Zhu, “I want to thank him. Meeting him at Mercersburg was a turning point in my music education. His guidance, both on technique and musicianship, has profoundly impacted my cello-playing. I’m incredibly grateful to him for accompanying me to New York for this performance.”
While preparing for this opportunity of a lifetime, Zhu performed for students around campus. Zhu said, “This eventually included walking around Main Hall to ask people if they wanted to hear a cello performance and having the wonderful opportunity to play for a large crowd at Spoken Word, thanks to the generosity of Ms. Poacelli. Those performances helped me gain the confidence and experience needed for a bigger stage.”
Zhu is ever grateful for all those who helped him get to Carnegie Hall, even in indirect ways: his roommate and neighbors who allowed him to practice in the room, residents of Main Hall who wanted to hear him play, those who showed up to Spoken Word, and of course his parents who supported him most of all. He concluded, “This journey didn’t happen overnight and was the result of hard work and support from the people around me. I want to thank my parents again for giving me long fingers that made cello playing relatively easier.”