Merely in Year 8, Leon Palmgren has his sights set high for his future in performing arts, and he won’t be stopping until he gets there. When he was 4, Palmgren first discovered his love for music when he starting singing and had already decided that he wanted to take music seriously by age 6 and was enrolled in piano lessons. Having recently added acting to his artistic repertoire, Palmgren still concentrates on perfecting his piano and vocal skills.
“It is enjoyable and exciting to perform in front of an audience. When I perform, it builds my confidence,” he explains. Palmgren takes his talents seriously as he practices a minimum of one hour per day in addition to renting music rooms at school to rehearse. “I always look forward to coming home and playing piano while singing,” he adds.
‘The people who inspire me are the ones who have the talent and courage to go on stage knowing that no mistakes will happen’
The Juilliard School has made quite an impression on him and he has been fortunate and talented enough to perform in some of their programs. His most defining moment as a performing artist was playing in New York with the Nord Anglia Global Orchestra and Choir and taking workshops at Juilliard simultaneously. The opportunity fuelled his passion for performing arts and he has now made it his goal to study at the prestigious institution one day.
For now, he is practicing on developing new techniques and expanding his repertoire through intensive piano and singing lessons. He will also be playing the role of one of the Marley Brothers in his school’s upcoming adaptation of The Christmas Carol.
Palmgren finds motivation by watching experienced performers on stage. “The people who inspire me are the ones who have the talent and courage to go on stage knowing that no mistakes will happen,” he says, recalling a particular performance by pianists Michael and Jessica Shinn at Juilliard. “It was inspiring to watch them perform and to hear about their careers.”
With many years ahead of him, Palmgren is sure to grow even further in his talents, and will one day be the role model for aspiring performers like himself.
Leon Palmgren is in Year 8 at The British International School Shanghai, Puxi.
