Concert Pianist, any chance?

[marklang]

First I would like to say I have bad English and if you see any problem with my write, hope you can understand anyway.
I think somebody already posted a topic about that, but I need some opinions about me.
I play piano since 6 years old. Now, I am 16 years old. To have an idea of my level, I am studying Chopin Etudes Revolutionary and Winter Wind, Mozart Sonata in A minor, and Shumann "Aufschwung" from Fantasiestucke op. 12. I already performed with orchestra, Beethoven 3rd concerto, when I was 12 years old.
My teacher and other musicians that listened to me, said me that I am talented and have musicality and feeling in my interpretations. My teacher said me too that I have chance to go to a good music college/university, but I never ask directly about concertist career.
In past years I was a lazy student, but now I am studying 8 hours per day, in holidays, and planning to study 5/6 hours per day during school time. I really want to dedicate my life to piano and I feel me motivated to work on it.
I participated in two competitions, only in my country, and got a second prize in one. But one thing that discourages me sometimes is that I see on the Internet several pianists my age who has already won several competitions and give concerts in many countries. It is cause for worry?
And my question is: is possivel to be a concert pianist? I am not asking if I can be a legend like Horowitz, Richter, that is absolutely improbable, but giving concerts in several hallls in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil...

Please reply and thank you for your time

[ichky]

Hi marklang,

Yes it is possible, and you should go for it. Focus on what you want. Do not worry about other pianist. There will always be better pianist than you, and there will always be better pianist than those too. You will never be the best. But so what?

You are not competing with anyone. You want to grow and improve yours skills. You want to do this for yourself. That is all. If another pianist has won more competition, that just means they have worked harder than you, and they believe they can do it. They deserve to be one of the best.

If you want to be like them, you must first believe in yourself, and work just as hard as they did.

You DO NOT have to be the best pianist to perform in a concert! You just have to one of the best.

Good Luck!

Ichky

[marklang]

Thanks 

[kamalayka]

I don't play the piano. (I play classical guitar.) But in my opinion, it isn't always necessary to have the highest skill level on your musical instrument.

Once you accept the fact that there will ALWAYS be somebody younger and more skilled than you, no matter how much you practice, you can start focusing on the more important aspects of music.

Learn to move the audience emotionally, regardless of how demanding the piece of music is! Treat all music that you play with the same respect. Often, the most popular music is usually NOT the hardest to play. Moonlight Sonata is so full of power that even people who don't like classical music are moved by it!

Remember that everything in a piece of music is a means to a greater end. Great composers don't compose to impress - they compose to evoke emotion. If something is played fast, or slow, or majestically, or sporatically, it is never to "impress" a listener. It should always be to serve the greater end, which is the music.