“I don’t know what to say. I really don’t know what to say.”

Any 13 year old paying a Chopin piece on piano would be impressive. When Lucy did it, however, it was breathtaking.

Not only is Lucy barely out of middle school, but she is blind and neurodivergent.

The jaw dropping moment occurred on a new talent show called “The Piano” which aims find the best amateur pianists from across the United Kingdom. The show places pianos in some of the busiest train stations in Britain, inviting amateur musicians to play on them for appointed judges and passersby alike.

Lucy was one of these lucky contestants, and blew everyone out of the water when she played a highly complex piece of music.

Finding Communication Through Music

As soon as she begins the piece, one of the judges’ faces transform into an expression of absolute shock. Even random commuters in the Leeds Train Station stop in their tracks to take in the music, many whipping out cell phones to capture the unbelievable performance. Lucy, however, is utterly lost in the music, playing with emotion and sensitivity that characterizes the greatest pianists.

One comment on the video reads: “Lucy does more than repeat music she has learned by rote. She plays with a degree of expression that shows remarkable maturity. In addition, she understands what she’s playing. One can hear that in the way she “brings out the voices” or accentuates the melody regardless where it lies within the texture of the piece.”

Candice, Lucy’s mother, reveals that her daughter was born with cancerous tumors in the eyes, and describes the experience as “horrendous” for the family. Now, as a 13 year old, Lucy has complete lack of vision.

She also has a duplicate of chromosome 16, which can affect various development processes, autism traits, and mental health. Candice admits that Lucy struggles with verbal communication, though she has clearly found her language in music.

A Musical Gift to Be Nurtured

As a tiny child, Lucy was gifted a toy piano keyboard, which she took into the hospital with her. Candice recalls how she played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star perfectly on the toy piano, and the nurse thought Lucy was playing pre-recorded audio. At this moment, the family knew their daughter was special, and that Lucy’s musical gift must be nurtured. Her parents upgraded her keyboard, and realized their daughter was composing music in her head while sitting silently on the sofa.

Lucy also developed her skills through musical charity The Amber Trust, which “[provides] musical opportunities for blind and partially sighted children, and children with more complex needs.” according to the trust’s website.

Fast forward to her appearance on ‘The Piano’ and this gift is undeniable. Lucy sways with the music as she expertly navigates Chopin’s Nocturne in B flat minor– a highly complicated piece of music for any pianist.

As Lucy played her way through Chopin’s Nocturne in B flat minor, both Mika and Lang Lang– the two judges for the program– were left stunned, neither speaking a single word during her performance. 

“I’m speechless, I don’t know what to say. I really don’t know what to say,” Lang Lang said afterwards.

Her Determination Can Inspire Us All

Video of the performance spread like wildfire, racking up millions of views and forever changing Lucy’s life. “It was literally life changing, these kind of events don’t usually happen in our lives” said Candice.

Lucy went on to compete in the finals for the show, along with other musicians more than twice her age. She went on to win the competition, flooring all fortunate enough to catch her performance.

Lucy’s story is a true testament to the power of the human spirit. Despite facing significant challenges in her life, she refused to let them define her or hold her back. Through her passion for music, she found a way to connect with the world around her and to showcase her incredible talent to others.

Lucy’s determination to succeed in the face of adversity is a source of inspiration to us all. Her story serves as a reminder that no matter what obstacles we face, we can overcome them if we have the courage to believe in ourselves and to pursue our dreams with passion and dedication.