Noah Waddell (born April 15, 2001) is an American pianist. He gained national attention as an award-winning 12-year-old pianist playing classical music compositions for patients at a local hospital in Fort Myers, Florida.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Noah Waddell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | April 15, 2001 Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional pianist |
| Style | Classical |
Career
editNoah Waddell was born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. At seven years old, he became interested in piano and began weekly lessons in addition to his homeschooling.[3][7] His father, Barry is a real estate broker and former professional tennis player. His mother, Anita, is a former teacher.[8]
Waddell's career began soon after he started taking piano lessons. He has participated in many competitions, including the annual Florida Federation of Music Clubs competition with over 2,000 competitors. He won first place in the FFMC competition in both solo repertoire and senior concerto competitions in 2013, as well as the Irene Muir and overall performance award, where he was the youngest winner in over 100 years. He won first place again in May 2015 for his solo performance- an extremely difficult Rachmaninoff piece.[9] Waddell was the overall winner at the event held in May 2014.[10] Waddell has also appeared on the PBS TV Show, "Curious Kids," and has been featured on NBC and Wink TV.[6][11]
Waddell was one of eight pianists chosen to participate in the Sergei Babayan International Piano Academy at the Cleveland Institute of Music,[12] and he attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia on a full scholarship for the Summer 2013 semester.[9] Waddell made his orchestral debut with the Tampa Bay symphony performing Beethoven's 3rd Concerto.[11] He has played several times with this symphony, most recently in June 2015.
Discography
edit- Noah Waddell Classical Piano Masterworks[13]
Philanthropy
editAs part of the Arts in Healthcare program, Waddell volunteers his time to play piano at the Fort Myers Health Park Medical Center and other local hospitals on a weekly basis.[1][4][14]
In 2013, Waddell hosted Noah's Concert for the Kids at the Big Arts Performance Center on Sanibel Island.[15] The event raised over $30,000 for the new children's hospital at Healthpark.[6]
Awards
edit| Year | Award | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | FGCU Steinway Young Artist Competition | Naples, FL | First prize[16] |
| 2012 | FGCU Steinway Young Artist Competition | Naples, FL | First place[16] |
| Justin Lebaron Young Artist Competition | St. Petersburg College | First place[17] | |
| 2013 | Florida Federation of Music Clubs Competition | Northwest Florida State College | Solo repertoire winner; Senior concerto winner; Irene Muir Overall winner |
| 27th Annual Tampa Bay Symphony Concerto Competition | Clearwater, FL | First place | |
| 2014 | Miami Young Artist Chopin Competition | Miami, FL | First place |
| Florida Federation of Music Clubs Competition | Jacksonville, FL | Connie Tuttle-Lill All performance winner[10] | |
| International Keyboard Odyssiad Piano Competition | Ft. Collins, Colorado | First place[18] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Noah Waddell, 12-Year-Old Piano Prodigy, Plays For Patients At Florida Hospital". Huffington Post. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "Child piano prodigy heals through music". Asbury Park Press. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ a b Patrice Shields (25 February 2014). "Huge talent- Noah Waddell to perform at Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs". Naples News. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ a b Katie Hendrick (18 January 2013). "WEEKEND BEST BET: Noah Waddell in Concert". Your Observer. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "12 Year Old Noah Waddell". The Daily Saint. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "Tampa Bay Symphony Spring Concert". Arts Tampa Bay. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "Child prodigy volunteers to play for patients at HealthPark". Wink News. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ Theresa Collington (17 June 2013). "12-year-old piano prodigy Noah Waddell wows patients and staff at Florida hospital". 10 News. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ a b Jackie Winchester (19 June 2013). "Music as medicine: 12-year-old piano prodigy wows at Lee County hospital". News Press. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ a b "FFMC Junior Convention Scholarship Awards". Florida Federation of Music Clubs. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Symphony features young artist winner". TBN Weekly. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ Abigail Ortlieb (20 June 2013). "Piano Prodigy Plays for Hospital Patients". Good Men Project. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "Music". Noah Waddell. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "11-Year-Old Piano Prodigy Entertains Patients". ABC News. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ MCKENZIE CASSIDY (15 October 2013). "Island musical prodigy to perform in concert for children's hospital". Captiva Sanibel. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ a b SHEILA MESULAM (24 November 2012). "Spiritual Briefs: News from the spiritual community in Lee and Collier counties". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "The Justine LeBaron Young Artist Competition". Florida Orchestra Musicians Association. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "Overview of Club Year 2013-2014". Coral Gables Music Club Inc. Retrieved 21 November 2014.