You're going to want to remember the name, Ifetayo Ali-Landing. She's a 14-year-old musical prodigy who started playing the cello at the remarkable age of 4. Since deciding to switch from the violin to the cello at age 3, Ifetayo has continued to hone her craft at the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute, a non-profit organization in Chicago that trains and exposes its students to world-renowned musicians.
Ifetayo's incredible talent has now led her to become the first prize winner of the national Sphinx Competition, which according to the Chicago Defender, "provides young Black and Latino classical string instrument musicians the opportunity to compete under the guidance of an internationally-renowned panel of judges and perform with established professional musicians."
Last year, Ifetayo took home second place in the competition; however, after her riveting solo performance in the Junior Division, Ifetayo beat out hundreds of young musicians to win the top prize. In addition to earning first place, Ifetayo will receive $10,000, a radio interview with "From the Top" (a nationally-broadcast music program), plus the opportunity to perform and participate with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra and Sphinx Soloist Program Partners. She will also be doing solo performances with major orchestras.
If you haven't heard Ifetayo play before, here is one of her old performances. Be prepared to be blown away.
Congratulations, Ifetayo! We can't wait to see what you'll accomplish next.