There will be a real prodigy at the evening show, too. Zsófia Mohai is only 14 years old, a petite, frail little girl, a student of the Kontrasztok AMI (Institute for Elementary Art Education, called Contrasts). She is by far the youngest performer but has the most national competition wins; you could say where she entered a contest, there she usually won, as well. As a nine-year-old, she took in her hands the oboe at the first time; and won a competition in the same year. Since then, she “collects” the victories; only the last two years, she could stand up to the podium at dozens of international, national and regional competitions.
- This is going to be my first gig with a symphonic orchestra, and even at the Kodály Centre. This is wonderful, and the whole family is very proud of me. I am just finishing grammar school and from September, I am going to the Art High School of Pécs - so it's like if I mounted the stairs by two.
Zsófi’s teacher, Melinda Kothencz has been a member of the Pannon Philharmonic for two years, formerly played in Szeged; and has come to Pécs through her husband. The oboist says about the Paladilhe piece that is going to be played at this evening that it was the entrance exam piece at the Paris Conservatory, so it is not a fluffy programme. It is a five-minute work, with nice melodies and virtuoso runs. And she says about her pupil: - Zsófi was born to be a musician; as she stands on the stage, she is immediately comfortable. At the school, she is an excellent student, but it should also be seen that she has not even got an instrument of her own yet. An oboe, you know costs a lot, its price begins at 1.5 million forints; and Zsófi comes from a large family, so such amount of money is just an unattainable dream for them. Thanks to the support of the Rotary Club of Pécs, Zsófi can play a musical instrument that is worthy to her talent; since the Club has let renovate one of the oboes of the Art High School of Pécs. The young talented artist’s dress is due to the Rotary Club; she very gratefully thanks that to the sponsors.
Sophie is optimistic, however: - I love to perform and I plan that music will be a long-term career path for me. I want to be a music teacher, and of course to play on the highest level I can. She thinks about this performance: - A lot of my work is in it and it is a very nice piece I am playing; at least, I love it. The fast part is as it were modelled about me, because it is so funny; and I like the beginning of it, because it's like if I just improvised it. She, a chatterbox, also tells us why she should play nicely at the Kodály Centre: - My brother plays the piano; and my sister, having heard me, also chose the oboe – so I cannot discourage them from public performances. Actually, at first I also played the flute; and then I got to like the oboe tone, and it helped, too, that at the emotional part of the movie soundtracks, mostly plays an oboe.
That she will play really nicely, it is guaranteed by Melinda Kothencz: – At age 14, such musical sensitivity, diligence, and devotion to music occur hardly ever and only in exceptional cases only and in. I may say that Sophie is the most gifted student of my ten-year teaching career, with such human qualities you rarely encounter in life. At the same time, she is an incredibly happy kid, joy to work with.