For Gabriel Tsai, 15, music is a special color you must use on a canvas to fill in the grey, dull parts of life. He first tasted music when he began playing piano at five. A little over a year later, he began exploring his favorite instrument, the violin. The violin’s vibrato lifts the sounds from Gabriel’s heart and expresses the color, depth and range of his feelings. Gabriel studies violin under Samuel Fischer at Colburn School.
Earlier this year, Gabriel won first place in violin and piano in the Sixth Hong Kong International Music Festival and first place in violin in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition and MTAC VOCE Competition, San Fernando West Valley Branch Level. In September 2019, he soloed with the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra for winning 1st place in the MTAC Concerto Competition, San Fernando West Valley Branch. At age 12 he made his solo orchestral debut with the Bellflower Symphony Orchestra in April 2018 for winning 1st place in the 29th annual Bellflower Young Artists Concerto Competition. He was also invited to perform solo violin and piano at Carnegie Hall’s Weil Recital Hall in April 2018, and solo piano at the Hall in December 2016.
Gabriel was associate concertmaster with Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra 2019-2020, concertmaster of Southern California Middle School Honor Full Orchestra 2018 and co-concertmaster with Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings 2018-19. He played with Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings Quartet 2018-19. He was competitively chosen by Colburn School to perform at a master class by Anne Akiko Meyers. He won 2nd place in violin and piano in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition 2018, in violin open solo and Baroque at Southwestern Youth Music Festival 2017, and in violin open solo at the Festival 2016. He also won many 1st place piano awards at the Festival and other competitions from 2016-2018. In his spare time he enjoys playing tennis, making 3D animations, building Lego creations and hanging out with his friends.
1st Piece:
Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Opus 22, I. Allegro moderato; Henryk Wieniawski; 07:29 (please convert in audio for 1st round) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpAUR3Kz9xo
2nd Piece:
Partita No. 2 in D minor (S. 1004) Allemanda, J. S. Bach, 03:13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WXAJwBY4nA
