Elysia hits top key

YOU would expect to hear Rachmaninov from world concert pianists or on compact disc, but 16-year-old Elysia Smith plays it with the greatest aplomb in her Eudlo lounge room.

Elysia's passion for piano began at the age of four when her musical talent was discovered by her pre-school teacher - and she hasn't looked back since.

Realising their daughter's potential, Noel and Siew-Tuan Smith immediately enrolled Elysia for piano lessons. Noel also started taking lessons to give his daughter moral support.

Their commitment to their daughter's music has been tested from the beginning. Lessons were in Maroochydore at first, but they soon found they had to travel to Brisbane each week if Elysia's full potential was to be realised.

All too quickly, Elysia advanced beyond the family's old upright piano and it became necessary to invest in a grand. Their confidence in their daughter's talents has been fully justified.

"I knew that I had to satisfy Elysia's appetite for music, so I also took lessons to keep up with her learning," Noel said. "It wasn't too long before she started going ahead in leaps and bounds."

At age 8, Elysia was the youngest competitor to win the 15 and under Junior Piano Championships and at age 13, after receiving honours in all her music exams she was awarded the AMEB Performers Diploma.

Also playing violin, flute and classical guitar, Elysia juggles her time between teaching piano, practise, performing and completing year 12 at Nambour State High School.

"I usually try to practise three to five hours each day, but between school studies, performing and teaching it's getting more and more difficult to find the time," she said. "I have 12 students at the Toowong Forte Music School and five students on the Sunshine Coast so I'm generally kept very busy."

After Year 12, Elysia hopes to go on to tertiary studies to further her musical career and would also like to join a musical group or orchestra.

"When you perform, it's just an amazing feeling," she said. "Teaching is very rewarding but I have a performing streak and would like to continue with that as well."

Noel, playing timpani, and Elysia, as concert master, also toured rural Queensland with the Forte Symphony Orchestra last Easter.

The talent is definitely in the family. Elysia's younger sisters Sanchia, 12 and Selena, 9, have also exhibited great flair. Sanchia is already doing Grade 6 piano and Grade 5 violin while Selena is a Grade 4 piano student and a Grade One violinist. All three girls recently performed together for a Meals on Wheels charity performance.

Elysia takes to the stage whenever the opportunity arises and time permits. She performs at special functions such as weddings and also provides the accompaniment for soloists and music and vocal exams.

For those who would like to hear more about Elysia, she will be at the Nambour Civic Centre on July 18, when the Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra, of which she is leader, will perform with the Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra.