Source: Facebook/NBC News
Born different, one teen was not about to let a physical limitation stand in the way of his dreams. And thanks to his perseverance, he’s now playing piano at one of the most prestigious music venues in the world.
Darrius Simmons is a 15-year-old Warren, Ohio native born with just three fingers on his right hand and one finger on his left. He also has no bones beneath his knees.
At 10 years old, Simmons’ grandfather introduced him to the piano. Simmons loved the instrument and began to teach himself to play. After some time, Simmons started posting Facebook videos of himself playing. That’s when he caught the attention of a renowned Korean pianist, Yiruma.
“He saw it and invited me to play with him,” Simmons
told NBC 4 New York over the phone.
Traveling to the U.S. for a performance at Carnegie Hall, Yiruma asked to meet with Simmons.
“All those determination and all that, I learn from you, really,” Yiruma told Simmons upon meeting the young teen,
reported Ohio news station WFMJ. “I have so many things that can be learned from you.”
After watching Simmons play in person, Yiruma invited the teen to play on stage at Carnegie Hall, where he blew spectators away.
Now, Yiruma is hoping that Simmons can further his career and keep composing his own music.
And Simmons knows that even though his first ever concert was Carnegie Hall, he’s going to take what he learned to become a better pianist.
“I’m really going to take what he said to heart and compose my own stuff,” said Simmons.
“I want everyone to know that if you set your mind to something you really can do it,” he added.
