Sunday, Oct. 30, will be a busy day for pianist Timothy Tran. The 12-year-old Burke resident will be performing in two recitals in the area, one at Alden Theatre in McLean and one at George Mason University. At Alden, he will play three pieces, by Chopin, Debussy and Kabalevsky. At GMU, he is featured in the Young Artist Piano Musicale, which precedes Jeffrey Siegel's "Mozart and Schubert: Romantic Fantasies" program. When he's not performing, Tran is like any other seventh grader. He likes to play soccer and often plays music for the residents Leewood Nursing Home in Springfield.
How long have you lived in the area?
I have lived in Burke since I was born in 1993. My parents used to live in a townhouse off Burke Road, across from the VRE station, before we moved about three miles to our current house. We like this area because the school system is very good.
When and why did you start playing music? I started taking piano lessons a little over six years ago when I was 6 year-old. I was a very energetic boy, and my mother thought that learning to play piano would help me calm down a bit (although I do not think it made much of a difference.)
What's been your most exciting experience so far?
I like to compose music so I was very happy when my composition was recognized in PTA Reflections. I won Outstanding Award of Excellence at the school and cluster levels in Cluster 3 of Fairfax County in the music composition category in the 2004 and 2005, and second place at the District level.
What's your biggest accomplishment?
My biggest accomplishment musically is to be selected to play piano at the Alden Theater through an audition in April 2005. This program is sponsored by the Music Friends of the Fairfax County Public Library and the Alden Theatre at the McLean Community.
Favorite composer?
Actually, I do not have one particular favorite composer because I enjoy listening to all classical music in general. If I had to choose one, it would probably be Chopin, because I have played some of his famous works.
Where all have you performed?
I have competed and performed at different places in the Northern Virginia such as the Arlington Woman Club, Levine Music School, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Catholic University, and now Alden Theater and George Mason University.
Timothy Tran performs as part of the Young Soloists Recital, Sunday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m., at Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave. in McLean. Call 703-790-0123 or visit www.mcleancenter.org. Later that day, at 6 p.m., he performs in the Young Artist Piano Musicale, in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall lobby, located at the corner of Braddock Road and Route 123 in Fairfax. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.