Whiz Kid: Cranbrook's Elizabeth Xiong Shines at the Ivories

Each week, Bloomfield Patch features students doing amazing things in their schools and in their communities. This week, we feature a piano prodigy who has earned national recognition for her skilled performances and who is about to start another round of regional and state competitions this weekend in Mount Pleasant.

Elizabeth Xiong

Age: 14

School: Freshman at Cranbrook Schools.

Achievement: Xiong is a Slotkin Music Scholar at Cranbrook and placed second nationally in the Music Teachers National Association’s (MTNA) Junior Piano Competition last spring. The prestigious designation essentially makes her the No. 2 pianist in her class in America. The well-spoken teen from Rochester Hills has also finished first in regional and statewide competitions, accompanies the Cranbrook Concert Choir, and has been a concerto soloist with the Warren Symphony on four occasions.

Key to awesomeness: Xiong started playing piano at age 4 and was a quick study. She was competing regularly within a few years and developed a passion for playing while expressing herself through the musical performances.

“With classical music, there are no words, and all emotions come through how you play it — and I really like that,” she said. “I love the saying, ‘When words fail, music speaks.’ ”

Depending on her schoolwork, Xiong said she practices between one and five hours a day, trying to master familiar pieces or challenging herself with new ones. The work paid off at the MTNA, where she faced national competition for the first time.

“It meant a lot because I’ve been going to these competitions for four years, and to finally make it to nationals — I said, ‘Let’s give it my all,’ and I did pretty well,” she said.

“Everyone that goes to compete in these events has a special feeling for music, and when you compete, you still play with the same love. You don’t have to separate it because it’s a competition.”

Do you know our next Whiz Kid?

Bloomfield Patch welcomes suggestions for students, youth groups and even sports teams who wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about amazing children and teens and select one each week as Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or email the information to editor Art.Aisner@patch.com. Please include all these details:

• Nominator's name
• Whiz Kid's name and age
• Whiz Kid's school
• Whiz Kid's accomplishment
• What makes him or her successful