Brianna Kahane was recently featured on Oprah's ALL-TIME WORLD'S MOST TALENTED & AMAZING KIDS final show. We caught up with this musical kid to get the scoop.
Watch Brianna in action, then read our Q&A.
1) What made you want to start playing the violin?
My mom and dad tell me that I started watching Disney's "Baby Einstein" videos when I was a baby and loved classical music even then! We always had music in my house so I think music is a part of me. I really can't imagine my life without it. My mom and dad took me to a lot of concerts when I was little so I got to see really amazing musicians perform like David Foster, Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban. When I went to these concerts, I fell in love with the violin because it sounded like a singing voice to me. I am so lucky I got to see some really talented violinists when I was little, and I wanted to play just like them. I begged my mom and dad to get me a violin and they got me my first one when I was three.
2) How many hours a day do you practice? Does it ever get tiring?
I am a classically-trained violinist and practice every day, usually for at least two hours a day. I practice even more when I have performances coming up. Sometimes I get a little tired when I practice after a full day of school, but I get inspired because someday I want to be as good as Itzhak Perlman and I know how important it is for me to practice hard every day to be as good as him. I feel really great after I practice well and then I go play!
3) What's your favorite piece to play?
I have a lot of favorite pieces that I play! As far as classical music goes, I enjoy playing "Meditation" (from the opera Thais) because I heard Itzhak Perlman and Lucia Micarelli play it and I loved it so much, I had to learn it.
I also really love "The Prayer" by David Foster. I was so thrilled when I got to share the stage with him and he jumped on keyboards to play "The Prayer" along with me! A lot of people are very touched by that beautiful song when I play it, so it meant so much to me to hug the man who wrote it. Playing "The Prayer" with Mr. Foster was my dream come true, and I would really love to work with him again.
4) What is the best place you have performed?
I have performed at lots of great places but I have to say Oprah's "All-Time World's Most Talented & Amazing Kids" show was definitely the most fun! Oprah was so sweet to me and I got to perform my violin for an amazing audience. I even got a standing ovation! Meeting Willow Smith was really awesome and I even got to play the XBox 360 while I was there and flip camera other kids! I had a blast!
5) Do you play any other instruments?
Yes, I play the piano and really want to compose songs someday. I also love to sing and act!
6) You have done a lot of TV shows and interviews, who have you been most excited to meet?
I was so excited to meet and perform for President Clinton! He is so kind and said such nice things about me. That made me feel really good inside.
7) We understand you give to charities and have your own foundation, why do you think it is important to help others?
My parents always taught me to give back, andI like to play my violin to help as many people and charities as I can. When I play, it touches people and sometimes they give money to help those who really need it. Also, when I play in hospitals it makes me feel really good to think that the patients enjoy my music and don't have to think about feeling sick for a little while.
I have performed for about twenty charities in the last two years and have helped raise over $18 million. I am very proud of that! Because I want to continue helping people with my music, I started my own foundation – The Brianna Kahane Charitable Foundation -- with the help of my mom and dad. I hope my playing will help people and make the world a better place, one song at a time.
8) When you are not playing the violin, what do you like to do for fun?
I'm really just a normal kid! When I'm not playing the violin, I love to play with my friends, play the Wii (my favorite game is "Just Dance 2"!), play with my American Girl doll (she is a violinist, too!), ride my skateboard, go to the movies, go swimming and play with my dog, Luvee. I also love roller coasters!
9) Favorite TV shows and music artists?
I love Disney Channel and my favorite show is "Wizards of Waverly Place." My favorite musical artists are Itzhak Perlman, David Foster, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban and Celine Dion. I also really like Selena Gomez, and I was so excited to hear that the song I performed on Oprah's "All-Time World's Most Talented & Amazing Kids" show, Csárdás, is actually the introduction in Lady Gaga's song, "Alejandro!" It would be really fun to perform it with her someday!
10) In terms of playing the violin, is there some goal you want to accomplish like playing at a certain place or with another violinist?
When I grow up, I want to be a violin virtuoso like Itzhak Perlman and tour the world! I would love to perform at Carnegie Hall, work with David Foster and perform with my other favorite musicians like Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban and Celine Dion. I would also really love to rock out like Lucia Micarelli someday. If I can do these things, I will be one happy girl!
Check out our twelve things about Brianna Kahane.
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