Blind pianist Lucy, 13, is crowned the winner of The Piano
Lucy #Lucy
A 13-year-old blind pianist was crowned the winner of Channel 4 series The Piano on Wednesday night following her performance at the Royal Festival Hall.
Lucy, 13, who has autism, wowed the audience during the show’s final which came after she left viewers in tears after performing Chopin at a train station last month.
The show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, involves members of the public performing at train stations across the UK while the judges watch in a secret room.
Pop star Mika and concert pianist Lang Lang then select one pianist at the end of each episode to perform in the final.
Judge Mika praised Lucy’s ‘jaw-dropping’ rendition of the song, and said: ‘Magical things happen with music that are against all odds and all limitations.’
Amazing: Blind, autistic Lucy was crowned the winner of Channel 4 series The Piano on Wednesday following her performance at the Royal Festival Hall
The singer added: ‘It’s astonishing when it happens. When it happened in Leeds, when Lucy performed, it was jaw-dropping – it was the most humbling thing you could possibly see.’
Lucy’s mum said: ‘It’s a once in a lifetime experience that neither of us will ever forget. It was literally life changing, these kind of events don’t usually happen in our lives.’
During her first appearance on the show, a clip of Lucy’s performance was posted on Twitter by the Channel 4 official account, leaving viewers incredibly moved.
Her mesmerising performance stuns the crowd at the station who watch on in awe, with people online saying they were ‘tearful’ after watching the clip.
At the beginning of the clip, Lucy is led to the piano by a man who helps her find her seat, while Winkleman speaks to Lucy’s mother.
The woman reveals Lucy, who is neurodivergent, covers her ears when people applaud her.
The woman explains: ‘She likes the applause, but she doesn’t like the sound of the applause. So her fingers go in her ears for sensory reasons.’
When Winkleman asks if she needs to tell the crowd not to clap, the woman insists Lucy ‘loves the applause’.
Incredible: The budding pianist wowed the audience during the show’s final which came after she left viewers in tears after performing Chopin at a train station last month
Talent: Judge Mika praised Lucy’s ‘jaw-dropping’ rendition of the song, he told PA: ‘Magical things happen with music that are against all odds and all limitations’
Finalists: The show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman , involves members of the public performing at train stations across the UK while the judges watch in a secret room
A crowd forms around the piano, with many people recording her on their phones. Meanwhile Mika and Lang Lang, who are watching the clip in a separate room, look visibly moved and watch the performance with open mouths.
At one point, Mika holds his hand up to his mouth and appears to fight back tears.
Lang says: ‘It’s unbelievable that she can play this piece. How – how does she study? I mean, it’s incredible.’
As Lucy finishes the piece and the crowd applauds her, Lang can be heard saying: ‘Oh my God. Oh my God this is – this is impossible.’
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