NYCs Carnegie Hall welcomes youngest piano…
Alec Van Khajadourian performs to his strengths.
And the five-year-old, a piano prodigy from Los Angeles, is poised to show off his sturdy go well with — on one of NYC’s most storied levels this Sunday.
“I can’t wait to get on stage at Carnegie Hall and play for everyone,” little Alec enthused to The Post. “I’m so excited!.”
Alec will shine as the youngest performer for the NY Classical Debut Awards Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall Sunday. @alecvanmusic/Instagram
The ivory-tickling tot would be the youngest virtuoso performing at the NY Classical Debut Awards Gala Concert this weekend, when elementary and center faculty age kids from 10 nations — including Turkey, Macedonia, Macau and Poland — will show off their expertise at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall.
“Alec is our youngest performer ever,” stated Pietro Molteni, the founder and creative director for the Gala Concert. “And, according to my records, the youngest performer in the history of Carnegie Hall.”
Representatives for Carnegie Hall, however, instructed The Post they may not “confirm anyone to be the youngest person to perform here since we don’t have complete records of the Hall’s earliest days.”
In the summer time of 2021, at age 3, pint-size pianist Brigitte Xie, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, was invited to carry out at the world-famous venue after after successful a prestigious worldwide music competitors — but the top-of-her-game Tri-Stater reportedly wasn’t in a position to make it due to a COVID-19-era snag.
Following his spectacular successful streak, Alec was invited to carry out at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in July. @alecvanmusic/Instagram
Alec’s triumphant journey to Carnegie began on a comparable word — besting his pint-sized friends at not one, but three main occasions.
Armed with good pitch — the power to appropriately determine or produce a musical word, a rarity discovered in only one in 10,000, or .01% of people, per reviews — the bitty Beethoven buff started working his fingers across the piano keys shortly after taking his first steps.
“He would walk over to the piano when he first started walking, punching a few notes,” dad Joe Khajadourian, beforehand instructed ABC7. “You could just see the huge grin on his face.”
At age 4, the proficient tyke started fine-tuning his innate knack with piano classes final yr.
The tiny hotshot, a fan of Beethoven, started enjoying the piano while he was still in diapers, say his dad and mom. . @alecvanmusic/Instagram
In March 2025, he gained first prize at the Charleston International Music Competition in South Carolina. He then dominated in the Big Apple, securing prime honors at the 2025 NY Classical Debut Awards International Competition in April.
And while most children had been busy dreaming about summer time trip, Alec was taking the gold at the 2025 Los Angeles Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition.
The win earned him an unique invitation to carry out at Walt Disney Concert Hall in the City of Angels on July 1.
The mini maestro will proceed his success streak at Gotham’s acclaimed live performance venue, where artists, from composers such as Antonín Dvořák and Gustav Mahler, to modern-day hitmakers like Jay Z, have, too, made their mark.
“I’m so excited and proud of Alec for all his hard work,” Joe tells The Post. “It’s such an amazing time for him.”
The five-year-old giddly tells The Post he’s “excited” to take one of NYC’s most hallowed levels. @alecvanmusic/Instagram
Both he and Alec’s mom, Diana Sanders, have been granted permission to accompany the little luminary behind the curtains forward of his W. 57th St. showcase, says Molteni.
“[The NY Classical Debut Awards] and the Carnegie Hall staff made a few exceptions to the venue’s strict rules — for instance, the policy prohibiting parents backstage,” Molteni defined, citing Alec’s younger age.
“The incredible Carnegie Hall team, including our amazing concert manager, Lorella Bergamo, immediately understood the uniqueness of the situation and accommodated it with great professionalism,” he added before emphasizing the significance of spotlighting gifted go-getters like Alec.
The boy’s mom and father, Diana Sanders and Joe Khajadourian, expressed their abiding delight in Alec to The Post. @alecvanmusic/Instagram
“Taking the stage at such a prestigious venue allows these young musicians to see themselves as capable of achieving the highest levels of their craft,” he stated.
“It’s an extraordinary motivational boost for a young artist, who devotes countless hours to studying music in their room and pursuing one of the most demanding careers in the world.”
Mom Diana agrees.
“It’s beautiful to watch Alec share his love for the piano with so many people,” she gushed, “and to inspire young kids to pursue music.”
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