Student's Road to Carnegie Hall Started in India

When 8-year-old Shaan Kumar performed in an audition for the Little Mozart's Competition, sponsored by Rider University, he perhaps channeled a little of the great master himself.

Shaan's performance of the Sonatina in C, composed by Albert Biehl, was hailed as a "commanding performance," one that earned him first place in his age group in the competition.

As a first-place winner, it also earned him a chance to perform in the spotlight on stage at Carnegie Hall in April.

The Triangle School third-grader has been playing for about five years, after being introduced to the piano during a visit to India when he was 3, after his grandparents hired a piano teacher to "keep him entertained," according to a township proclamation presented to him at Tuesday's Township Committee meeting.

"I know that I will continue to work hard and learn new skills in the future and make Hillsborough proud," he said, after thanking his parents, teacher and "piano guru."

"You already have," Mayor Frank DelCore told him.