The Pianist
Nicolas Trad
Senior, Lycée Rochambeau
Watching Nicolas Trad’s fingers dance along the keys in a performance of Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu, you’d never know that he’s a senior at Lycée Rochambeau, the French International School in Bethesda, and not a professional concert pianist.
Nor would you know that the 17-year-old had to put his piano practice on hold for more than two years after he, his parents and his four siblings fled their home in Lebanon during the 2006 war there.
Nicolas had played the piano for about two years before his family was forced to relocate when he was 11. He didn’t resume until he was 13, when his older sister, Isabelle, started taking lessons again after the family settled in Bethesda.
At first, he could barely remember how to read sheet music. But after about a year, “something just opened up in him,” his mother, Rhonda Trad, says.
Soon, Nicolas’ instructor was setting up recitals for him at the Russian Cultural Centre and the Mansion at Strathmore, and at 15, Nicolas attended the prestigious, six-week Interlochen summer camp for piano in Michigan.
Nicolas says his piano lessons and practice serve as relaxing departures from the rest of his schedule, which is dominated by the challenging French International Option Baccalaureate program. French International School counselor Amy Garrou says that since starting at the school six years ago, Nicolas has consistently maintained one of the highest GPAs in his class of 62.
“We have had some remarkable students at our school, but in my five years here I’ve seen perhaps one other with such a consistent and superlative record,” Garrou says. “He has a steadiness that is rare and deep.”
Garrou says that although she is a musician herself, she didn’t understand the depth of Nicolas’ talent until she saw a YouTube clip of him playing.
For the past two years, Nicolas also has helped feed the homeless at Bethesda Cares’ Saturday lunch program. He recently won a Chris Van Hollen Public Service Award for his efforts.
Nicolas will attend Princeton University in the fall and hopes to become a doctor. He plans to continue playing piano either by minoring in music or taking private lessons.
“I mostly just like playing alone,” Nicolas says. “At the end of a long day, or when I’m stressed, it’s how I let go.”
You can see Nicolas Trad perform at www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bl1ufPxbT4&feature=relmfu.
