Piano Prodigy Takes Grand Prix In Paris

By Vanessa Garnica

When 12-year-old prodigy Daniela Navarro starts playing Sonata Number One from Dmitri Shostakovich on her small piano, you can’t help but feel in the presence of greatness.

With one arm in the air, she attempts to convey the tragedy of the piece about the Soviet Union’s role in World War, II,“Here in the right,” she points to her libretto, “it’s as if this little girl is looking for an exit from all the tragedy around her,” she explains.

At one point, her tiny fingers hit the ivory keys with such fervor one of the hammers breaks.
“She’s a little girl with a seal from God,” says Dr Alexander Sklioutovski, Music Professor at the Universidad Nacional and Daniela’s mentor. Her talent does not have limits.

“She has found a mix between accuracy and personality that has won over audiences everywhere. At such a young age, she has a high level of professionalism.”

With that same enthusiasm, Daniela earlier this month went to the First Slav Music International Piano Competition in Paris where she won first place prize, as well as the Grand Prix recognition, which is not always awarded.

“The next day after the competition took place they decided to award the Grand Prix,” said Dr Sklioutovski, who is also the director of the Instituto Superior de las Artes. “Daniela thought they had changed their minds… that they would take away her first place.

© Zoraida Diaz

“It wasn’t until the audience started cheering her name she realized she had won the special recognition. Everyone was on their feet.”

Daniela, who was the only participant from Latin America, competed in the B Category where she beat out seven other young pianists from all over Europe and China.

“She’s absolutely special,” Dr. Sklioutovski says of the young pianist. “She expresses herself with her own style.”

This rising star has played all over the world and has even been invited to study at the Secondary School of the Central Conservatory in Moscow sometime next year.

“They have given her the option to stay and study at the conservatory after she is done with her secondary studies,” said Carlos Navarro, Daniela’s father. “But we have to look into some kind of scholarship. We haven’t made the decision for monetary reasons. We really want her to go.”

Although her parents have not decided yet if she would attend the prestigious Russian music school, Daniela insists this is an opportunity of a lifetime.

© Zoraida Diaz

“People are saying that I’m too young to go (to Russia),” she explains with a maturity beyond her years. “I want to go. It has been my wish for a very long time to go and study in Moscow. I think this would be an important step towards my preparation as a pianist.”

Daniela, who has been playing the piano since she was five years old, lives in Liberia, Guanacaste, with her parents along with her baby brother but travels to San José every Friday to work with Dr. Sklioutovski at the Instituto Superior de las Artes.

At such a young age, Daniela is acutely aware of the amount of work that takes to improve her skill.

“My goal before participating in any competition is to give the best I can offer. It is important not to settle,” said the young Costa Rican who often practices from sunrise to sunset. “If your fingernails have to bleed… if you have to sweat a whole lot… it’s okay if you have tried your best. It’s the effort that counts.”

As a result of her winning performance in Paris, Daniela was chosen as one of two children who will participate at a Christmas concert called Genius Children of the World taking place in the City of Light this December.

She will also participate at a competition in San Marino, Italy in mid-September, concert for which she is currently preparing for. According to her mother, only 16 participants from around the world were accepted in her category.

“I have a vague idea of what I want to do in the future,” said the sixth grader. “I want to get a Doctorate in Piano and I would like to do concerts where the funds collected could be used for poor children so we can feed them or maybe plant trees where they are needed and clean waterways.”