Timothy Hawn, 12, regularly performs concerts in the area. He began his piano instruction at age 7 and within a year completed 10 levels of coursework.
ABOUT HIM* School: Sixth-grader at Bledsoe County Middle School.* Favorite pianists: Beethoven, Jim Brickman and Harry Connick Jr.* Favorite vocalists: Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Dean Martin.* Favorite subject: World history.* Pets: Four cats, Tinker Bell, Andy, Hermione and Ann.* Dream job: Concert pianist.CLAIM TO FAMESince taking up the piano at age 7, Timothy Hawn, 12, has performed at dozens of regional events, including benefits, private events and paid concerts. He has played at Riverbend’s Kids Talent Search Stage for three years and has taken home first place at two regional talent shows.WATCH HIM PLAYView more videos of Timothy Hawn’s performances on his YouTube profile at www.youtube.com/MrPianoPrince.TALENT SHOWDo you know a child age 13 or younger with a precocious talent in academics, athletics or the arts? The Times Free Press is searching for children to feature in “Talent Show,” which appears in the Life section on Tuesdays. To nominate a child as a possible subject of a future feature article, e-mail staff writer Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com or call him at 423-757-6205.
When Timothy Hawn sits down at the piano, he judges his performance not on how masterfully his fingers follow the notes on the page but how well he conveys the emotion those notes imply.
Timothy, 12, said he sees each piece of music as both a challenge and a chance to get insight into the composer.
As part of his eight-month journey last year to memorize the notoriously difficult third movement of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” Timothy read books about the German composer. That knowledge gave him a new perspective on Beethoven’s music and motivations, he said.
“I like how he puts all his emotion in the music,” Timothy said as he sat next to his father and mother, all three wearing matching shirts covered in twisting and curving piano keys.