“I am Good” 14-year-old Ifetayo Ali-Landing, Winner US National Music Competition

Her name is Ifetayo Ali-Landing; she is 14 years old, and has just won First Place Laureate Prize at the 2017 edition of the prestigious Annual Sphinx Competition in the US.

The national competition is designed for young people of Junior High, High School, and university age competing in either the Senior Division (18-30 years old) or the Junior Division (17 years old and under). Ali-Landing, a student at Hyde Park Suzuki Institute, Chicago, US, competed in the Junior Category, winning the coveted prize of $10, 000.

At age 14, interestingly, Ali-Landing was the youngest semi-finalist at the competition held in Detroit, Michigan. Other benefits attached to her win are: “solo appearances with major orchestras, performances with Sphinx Symphony Orchestra and at Finals Concert, as well as nationally-broadcast radio appearance on From the Top”

“I have been playing for ten years,” she told Sphinx Music. “My mother actually plays violin; she is a violin teacher; so naturally I play an instrument; and I kinda just picked up the cello; that’s something I really want to play. I love performing, honestly. And I also love to dance. I love building computers. And I love sports – all sports. I couldn’t wait to play for everyone; it’s an awesome experience. I think it was basically this that reassured me that I can do this, and that I do have a future in this, and I am good.”

Ifetayo’s winning performance was Lalo’s Concerto in D Minor; she competed alongside hundreds of young musicians from across the United States.

Child prodigy

But this recent feat is hardly the teenager’s first spot in the limelight. Only last year, she was first runner up in the same competition, winning $5, 000.

“Last year, I came in second place, which was great, but what I really wanted was first place, and this year I got it,” she told the Chicago Defender.

Also last year, she was among the winners chosen at the DePaul Concerto Festival for Young Performers, performing as soloist with Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra. She is recipient of several honourable mentions including those from the Society of American Musicians (SAM), DePaul Concerto Festival, and Music Festival in Honour of Confucius.

At age 10, Ifetayo Ali-Landing recorded the 1st movement of the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto Number 1 in A minor – a video which has so far garnered 8 million views on Facebook, and over 50, 000 on YouTube. Her work was given recognition by the Friends of the IPO (Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra) Rising Stars Showcase in 2013 when she was only 10 years old.

Classics and the future

The teenager’s mother, Lucinda Ali-Landing, has had the most profound influence on her music. Mrs Ali-Landing who is the founder of Hyde Park Suzuki Institute, Chicago, said, “Whether she took first, second or whatever, we knew she was a winner. That’s how I felt, and I cried, actually, when she walked out on stage. When they announced her as the winner I was just really happy that she was not disappointed, given the amount of work that she has put in.”

Mrs Ali-Landing’s 16-year-old school has produced two other national winners: Ade Williams (violinist) in 2011, and Mira Williams who won second place in 2015.

“Ifetayo is just one child from the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute who has been part of this national competition. We’ve sent three students there from this little itty, bitty school. What other school can boast that they have had three Sphinx winners in the country? Well, this little Southside program on the second floor of a church can,” Mrs Ali-Landing

Ifetayo’s style has been praised by many critics for its uniqueness, depth and clarity; she is believed to be set to define the future of classical music on the global stage.

“I love cello music, and have recordings by many fine cellists.” writes Mellow Cumudgeon. “This kid is really good. It’s impressive that she can play such a demanding piece from memory. She already knows that vibrato is not the same as expressiveness. Some adults still don’t know that.”

Ifetayo’s recording of “Celtic Hymn” from Northern Skies for Cello and Piano by Sir James MacMillan received commendation by the famous Scottish composer and conductor himself. Among her recent works are Cello Concerto No. 1; First Movement by Dmitri Shostokovich (2016) and Pampeana No. 2 for Violencello and Piano, Op. 21 by Alberto Ginastera (2017).

Ifetayo’s hobbies include singing, dancing and playing piano.