Marc Yu
Encyclopedia
Marc Yu is a musical child prodigy
, playing the piano
and (formerly) the cello
.
, The Ellen DeGeneres Show
(in which he received an accordion), as well as being the focus of a National Geographic television special titled "My Brilliant Brain" (USA title: "Brain Child").
While at a friend's party, Marc heard the children in attendance singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb", at which point the three-year-old went over to the nearby piano and played the song back, never having played with piano before. His friends were shocked and knew it must be another prodigy. By his mother's persuasions he began undertaking formal lessons later that year. Marc has perfect pitch. His family lived in Pasadena, California
, but he moved to San Francisco and he goes to the Nueva School with the students around his age.
His musical idol is famous Chinese pianist Lang Lang
. They have performed publicly together twice to date. Marc made his Proms debut with Lang Lang in London on 31 August 2008. They performed Schubert's Fantasia in F minor for piano duet, D940.
Marc made his Carnegie Hall
debut on October 27, 2009, when he again performed the Schubert Fantasia with Lang Lang
.
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
, playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and (formerly) the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
.
Biography
Marc has been playing the piano since the age of two and a half, and the cello since the age of six. He also exhibits prodigiousness in academic subjects, having advanced to high school-level math by the age of seven. In 2005 he was named a Davidson Fellow, making him the youngest recipient of this award. He has been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay LenoThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
, The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
(in which he received an accordion), as well as being the focus of a National Geographic television special titled "My Brilliant Brain" (USA title: "Brain Child").
While at a friend's party, Marc heard the children in attendance singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb", at which point the three-year-old went over to the nearby piano and played the song back, never having played with piano before. His friends were shocked and knew it must be another prodigy. By his mother's persuasions he began undertaking formal lessons later that year. Marc has perfect pitch. His family lived in Pasadena, California
Hacienda Heights, California
Hacienda Heights is an unincorporated census-designated place in and below the Puente Hills of the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
, but he moved to San Francisco and he goes to the Nueva School with the students around his age.
His musical idol is famous Chinese pianist Lang Lang
Lang Lang (pianist)
Lang Lang , born June 14, 1982, in Shenyang, Liaoning, China, is a Chinese concert pianist, currently residing in New York, who has performed with leading orchestras in Europe, the United States and his native China. He is increasingly well known around the world for his concert performances,...
. They have performed publicly together twice to date. Marc made his Proms debut with Lang Lang in London on 31 August 2008. They performed Schubert's Fantasia in F minor for piano duet, D940.
Marc made his Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
debut on October 27, 2009, when he again performed the Schubert Fantasia with Lang Lang
Lang Lang (pianist)
Lang Lang , born June 14, 1982, in Shenyang, Liaoning, China, is a Chinese concert pianist, currently residing in New York, who has performed with leading orchestras in Europe, the United States and his native China. He is increasingly well known around the world for his concert performances,...
.