Sirena Huang started taking violin lessons at age 4 and made her professional solo debut at 9 with the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. She has won top prizes in numerous international competitions, delighting audiences worldwide with her virtuosity and charm.

Why you should listen

Only 11 years old when she performed at TED, Sirena Huang is still technically a child. But as anyone who sees her perform can attest, she has a musician's soul that transcends her years. "Her musical imagination is boundless," said Juilliard dean Stephen Clapp, who described her as "a musical artist with qualities of maturity far beyond her age."

What's most striking in her performance style is the way she combines technical ability with emotional force and nuance. Her fiercely virtuoso performances are profoundly moving, even via podcast. "Amazed," "delighted" and "spellbound" are the words bloggers often use after watching her play. She has won numerous awards for her brilliant performances worldwide, and has played for the likes of French president Nicolas Sarkozy, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and the Dalai Lama. 

Sirena Huang’s TED talk

More news and ideas from Sirena Huang

4 great talks for International Women's Day

March 8, 2009

To celebrate March 8, International Women’s Day, we suggest these four TEDTalks gems from some amazing speakers — artists, scientists and economists who think deeply about the role of women. Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, feminism — and the power of passionate thinkers and doers: The former Finance Minister of Nigeria, Ngozi […]

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TEDTalks holiday comment roundup

January 2, 2009

During this holiday break, the conversation on TED.com has been as lively as ever. We talked about our resolutions: Cynthia Ryan writes: my resolution for 2009 is to (continue to) challenge my assumptions. Dan Dennett helps me do this, if only on his intellectual coattails. More than that, he has a way of imparting complex […]

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Sirena Huang plays to honor Alice Herz-Sommer

November 6, 2007

TEDTalks favorite Sirena Huang (watch her TEDTalks performance) played in Manhattan on Sunday night; as the New York Times reports today, “A Mendelssohn concerto exquisitely performed by a 13-year-old violinist, Sirena Huang, brought down the house.” Huang played as part of a free concert to honor the 103-year-old concert pianist Alice Herz-Sommer, a survivor of […]

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