Violinist, 17, publishes an autobiography
OrchestrasThe British violinist Leia Zhu, who has made debuts with three of the four independent London orchestras, has gathered her memoirs into a book.
Amazon describe it as ‘independently published.’
This is her story. Told with her own words.
With raw honesty, infectious humour, and boundless passion, Leia Zhu unravels her worldwide escapades and the artful balance of other pursuits with her extraordinary childhood in this captivating memoir.
“I have rich parents and am blissfully unaware of my own privilege”
I thought only white males have assailable privilege.
Who told you that?
From her wikipedia: “… Her father is an IT professional …”
That’s the modern day equivalent of coal miner’s daughter
Bill Gates is an IT professional… What is your point?
She truly thinks her first 17 years on the planet are so interesting? She should stick with Tik Tok where everything and everyone is “interesting” all the time.
What are the top four London orchestras? I’m thinking of five and I’m wondering which one you mean should be left out (LSO, LPO, Philharmonia, RPO, BBC Symphony)
The only (major) London Orchestra I know she HAS performed with is the LSO, under Rattle, in a big concert that was streamed internationally from Trafalgar Square. A pretty creditable account of the Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.
Haven’t heard enough of her to form a sure opinion, but she may actually have the musical chops. But if she does, she has a long and quite possibly very exciting and even distinguished career ahead of her. One day this teenage diary, which can only really be a bit of braggadocio, is going to look pretty silly.
I doubt she bluffed her way into the Mariinsky, but has nobody ever said “no” to this possible prodigy? Her parents? her agents at Harrison Parrott? Her teachers? Looks as if publishers did, which is clue number one.
She performed with LPO and Philharmonia (twice) within a year
The cover looks like something created in Microsoft Paint in 1995. But who am to criticize. Good luck for the young lady.
Even Bernstein didn’t do something like this …
*pass*
It’s entirely possible to have too much sell esteem.
She has surely a lot to tell us…
She certainly has had more experiences in her short life than all of the sour grapes in the comments.
Maybe the USP of this book is not to inspire or inform adults but instead, y’know, other children?
Interesting notion. But while I can well imagine adult publishers turned her down, I am not sure children’s publishers would have — a good one would have seen the potential of a young person trying to reach other young people on the possibilities of classical music. It does rather look more Tik-Tokish than that.
17 years old? sounds more like a college admissions essay.
BTW- the Chinese are taking over the UK also.
The chapter on her love affairs is sure to be a huge bore.