Congratulations to Grade 6 student, Ilona Parent, who took first prize in the junior category for her cello performance last month at the Vienna Virtuoso Festival.  She was also awarded a diploma for best performance.  The international competition takes place annually in Vienna, Austria.  Young musicians from all around the world are chosen to perform on stage in the international concert venue, Baroque Hall in Old Vienna City Town Hall (Altes Rathaus).  

Ilona started playing the cello at aged 7 when her mother gave her one as a present.  Ilona’s mother, who is also a cellist, was her first teacher. Ilona credits her win to her supportive parents and her cello teacher, Lu Jia.  She says “she could not have done it without them”.  Asked if she was nervous performing to a huge audience, “a little, but my father gave me a banana to eat, which helps calms nerves”.  Ilona practices her cello 2-3 hours each day after school, this increased to 4-5 hours prior to her competition.  Although it seems like a lot of hard work, Ilona enjoys practicing her instrument and hopes to continue with her music in the future, “I feel music is a part of me”.

When Ilona is not playing her cello, she enjoys reading. Her favourite authors at the moment are JK White of the Thickety series, and JK Rowling of the Harry Potter Series.