Umi Garrett facts for kids

Umi Garrett (born on August 15, 2000) is an amazing American classical pianist. She is known for her incredible talent and has performed all over the world since she was very young.

Early Musical Journey

Umi Garrett started playing the piano when she was just four years old. She began to seriously study the piano with her teachers, Itoe Akimoto and Yoshie Akimoto. Today, she continues her studies with John Perry. Umi was invited to play at the Killington Music Festival in Vermont. She was the youngest performer in the festival's 26-year history! In 2012, Umi also attended the Sydney International Piano Masterclass Festival. Besides piano, she also plays the violin and has taken ballet lessons since she was two and a half.

Highlights of Her Career

Early Performances and Big Stages

In August 2009, Umi performed in several concerts at the Vianden Music Festival in Luxembourg and in Germany. She played both solo pieces and chamber music. In 2010, Umi won the Second International Chopin Competition in Hartford, Connecticut. She received a perfect score from all three judges! After this win, she was invited to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Also in 2010, Umi appeared with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops orchestra. This performance was sponsored by NPR's From The Top. She made her first orchestral performance with the Desert Symphony in Palm Desert, California, in December 2009. She played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23. Umi also made her debut in China with the Wuhan Symphony Orchestra in 2010. She was only nine years old when she played in Wuhan. She also received a scholarship from MusicFest Perugia.

More Concerts and International Tours

In 2011, Umi Garrett performed at the Assisi nel Mondo Festival. She has played with many different orchestras. These include the Charlotte Symphony in Florida, the Thayer Symphony in Massachusetts, and the Indiana Chamber Orchestra in Indianapolis. In March 2012, Umi performed at The International Piano Stars Festival in Latvia. She was the youngest performer in that festival's history too! She returned to perform at the Assisi nel Mondo Festival again that year.

Music for a Cause

Umi Garrett created a special concert series called "Kizuna Concert Series." "Kizuna" means "bond" or "connection" in Japanese. She used this series to visit people in Tohoku, Japan. This area was affected by a big tsunami in 2011. She held four concerts in Tohoku in March 2013, bringing comfort through music. In 2015, Umi was invited to perform with the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra. This special show honored the 70th anniversary of the peace treaty signed by the United States and Japan.

Recent Achievements and Studies

In March 2020, Umi Garrett won the Fourth Prize at the US National Chopin Piano Competition in Miami, Florida. She shared this award with Chelsea Guo, another American pianist. Since September 2018, Umi has been a student in the Juilliard-Columbia dual program. She studies with Matti Raekallio and Hung Kuan Chen.

Awards and Recognitions

Umi Garrett has won many awards for her piano playing:

See also

In Spanish: Umi Garrett para niños