MFS Freshman To Perform At New York's Carnegie Hall

MOORESTOWN, NJ - A Moorestown Friends School student will perform at New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall next month.

After a string of successes in the International Crescendo Competition, pianist Yusuf Ansari is on his way to New York, the school announced on Thursday. Ansari, a freshman from Mount Laurel, has played the piano for nearly nine years.

“I had to practice at least half an hour a day [at the beginning], and now I have to practice for about an hour a day,” Yusuf said. “I just grew to love it.”

A piano teacher enrolled him in the Crescendo Competition in 2017 and 2018. This was the first time Ansari heard about the competition.

It is open to performers age 5-22 in numerous musical categories: instrumentalists (piano, strings, and winds), vocalists, duets, and ensembles. Participants are grouped according to age and participate in first-round auditions across the U.S.

Ansari performed at Westminster Conservatory in Princeton last November, earning first place in his age category (11-14). In recognition of this achievement, Ansari will play alongside fellow first and second place winners from around the country at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

“I’m going to perform the same piece I played for the judges, which is ‘Rondo Alla Turca’ by Mozart,” Ansari said.

Ansari will perform at the 7:30 p.m. recital on Saturday, Feb. 9.

The attached image of Yusuf Ansari was provided by Moorestown Friends School.