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Exceptionally talented pianist Christopher Rocha, a Middle School student at the Coral Gables Preparatory Academy in Miami, Florida, has won FIRST PRIZE in the prestigious 2023 New York Golden Classic Music Awards International Competition.
As a result, Christopher has been selected to perform in the Winners’ Concert at the legendary Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City on December 7, 2023. Christopher won the top prize in his “Junior Piano Soloist” category after delivering an extraordinary audition among hundreds of qualifying candidates.
This is a truly exceptional achievement for Christopher, 12 years old. He has been playing piano since he was 6, with professional Pianist Sahily Cánovas, educated in Russia. You don’t have to travel far to see him in action: Christopher will be a headliner at the City of Coral Gables Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, where he will play some all-time Christmas favorites. The ceremony, that marks the beginning of the Holiday Season in the City beautiful, is scheduled for December 1, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in front of the Coral Gables City Hall.
Christopher firmly believes God has granted him his talent to play the piano and his gift for perfect pitch, reasons for which he enjoys performing at his school, his church, and at local festivals as a way to give back to the community. Among other achievements, Christopher won a Mention of Honor from the University of Miami, Frost School of Music. He was a semifinalist in the 2021 Miami-Dade Young Talents Big Dreams Competition. He won Second Place in the 2021 Miami Music Teacher Association and has been a proud scholarship recipient of the Coral Gables Music Club since 2020. In April 2022, he was selected by the U.S. Chopin Foundation as one of the best 16 young South Florida pianists to perform at their annual recital, “Chopin for All, Local Young Pianist.”
