10-year-old pianist in Cyprus earns professional music diploma

Local childrenLimassolmusicTop News 10-year-old pianist in Cyprus earns professional music diploma Img 3772 Relevant News 10-year-old pianist in Cyprus earns professional music diploma 3 September 2026 Isolated mountain storms forecast as temperatures set to reach 39 degrees 3 September 2026 Occupied north’s Üstel sacks “minister” as first missing body found 2 September 2026 newsroom 3 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Lev Nekhin, ARSM, is a 10-year-old pianist, born in Moscow, who now studies at the Tatiana Stupak Music School in Limassol, Cyprus. His musical path began in Moscow. During the Covid-19 pandemic he was at home with little to do. There was an electronic piano in the house that no one used, so he found an online tutorial titled “How to play Für Elise” for beginner pianists. Within a short time he could already play the piece to a high standard, though not yet, perhaps, at the level of a professionally trained pianist. When his parents realised he could play, they enrolled him at a local music school. There, the emphasis was mainly on piano technique rather than on genuine musical interpretation. A year later, Lev and his family moved to Cyprus, where he continued his musical education at the Tatiana Stupak Music School. Stupak recognised his talent immediately and invited him to prepare for the exams of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) in the United Kingdom. He accepted the invitation, began preparing for Grade 1, and passed it successfully in June 2022. Within the strikingly short span of three years he went on to complete Grade 2 through Grade 8, achieving Grade 8 in June 2025. Working towards the Diploma The next exam stage was a significant challenge: the first Diploma level. If he passed, he would earn the title of Associate of the Royal Schools of Music, with the right to use the letters ARSM after his name. He began preparing in mid-2025, working towards a continuous 30-minute programme made up of ABRSM-approved pieces. He chose to perform Prelude and Fugue No. 12 by J. S. Bach, Sonata Op. 2 No. 1 by Beethoven, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, and Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20 in C sharp minor. He sat the exam in late June 2026, choosing to perform the entire programme from memory. He then waited two weeks for the results and his diploma. He achieved Distinction, a genuinely remarkable result for a child so young. He is now a proud Associate of the Royal Schools of Music. Two further Diploma levels remain open to him. Completing them would bring, in turn, the titles Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) and, finally, Fellow of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM), with the right to use the letters FRSM after his name. Competitions and performances Lev has taken part in several international music competitions, winning first place in the Island of Stars competition in Cyprus and scoring 98 out of 100 in the MusicArte 2026 competition. He has also performed in concerts held by the Tatiana Stupak Music School at the Historical Museum and the Russian House in Belgrade, Serbia, the Catholic Church of St Catherine in Limassol, and several other venues. Most recently he appeared in China, at SIAS University, in July 2026, where Stupak had arranged for some of her school’s students to take part in a joint concert with the university’s own students. Beyond the piano Lev’s other interests include mathematics, his favourite school subject, in which he takes additional lessons, and languages: English along with Greek, German and French. He also loves to travel, having already visited 24 countries and now travelling on a Cypriot passport. Aeroplanes are another long-standing interest, one he has held for more than two years. Lev hopes to take his musical journey further still, and in future wants to become a professional concert pianist. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Isolated mountain storms forecast as temperatures set to reach 39 degrees Occupied north’s Üstel sacks “minister” as first missing body found Cyprus to build three new desalination units to boost water security Limassol to recreate ancient Kourion using AI and 3D models Justice minister meets food delivery firms over rider attacks Schools with CCTV cameras see marked drop in vandalism, minister says Overnight pharmacies on Wednesday, September 2 Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.