Eight-year-old Matthew Liu, a soon-to-be third-grader at Quail Run School became the youngest prize winner at the Kaufman Music Center International Piano Competition in New York City. Liu has been playing since he was five years old.

No sheet music rests atop Matthew Liu’s piano. A reflection of his face shines off the Yamaha baby grand’s black finish as his hands hover over the black and white keys.

Biting his lower lip in concentration, Liu launches into Franz Liszt’s “Etude, Gnomenreigen.” He scoots himself up and down the piano bench to reach the high and low notes.

Eight-year-old Matthew Liu, a soon-to-be third-grader at Quail Run School became the youngest prize winner at the Kaufman Music Center International Piano Competition in New York City. Liu has been playing since he was five years old.

In late June the 8-year-old pianist played the same tune on a Steinway grand piano in a crowded New York City concert hall for the bi-annual Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition.

Playing a total of five pieces, Liu placed third in his age group.

“It’s a very prestigious competition,” said Liu’s longtime piano teacher Jung Spooner. “This was his first international competition and I believe he was the youngest contestant in the final. He was competing against kids from prep schools like Juilliard and from all over the world.”

Liu said he first heard the piano around the age of 5, and the music stirred something inside him.

“My sister was playing and it was the first instrument I ever heard and I wanted to play,” he said. “It was so beautiful. It touched my heart.”

Liu’s older sister, Emma, 10, is a two-time winner of the Kansas Music Teacher Association’s State Conference, said their father, Gaisheng Liu.

The children’s mother, Aichen Zhang, said she sings and plays both piano and flute, while Gaisheng Liu laughs and shakes his head, admitting he possesses little musical talent.

Zhang said she suggested her two children play piano, and their natural affinity toward the instrument soon took over.

Beginning lessons with Spooner, Liu hit the ground running, taking to the instrument at a quicker pace than many of his peers, his parents said.

“He learned very fast,” Zhang said. “I think he has very fast hands. It’s the touch.”

“When he touches the piano it’s natural,” Gaisheng Liu continued. “The touch, the feel and the sound.”

Each week Liu attends Spooner’s lessons, practicing for an hour and a half each day, two hours when he’s preparing for competitions.

A single piece of music can take as much as a month and a half to memorize, and another two months to perfect, Liu said.

One of his favorite pieces to play is Rimsky-Korsakov’s fast-paced “Flight of the Bumblebee.”

Calling the piece “exciting to play,” Liu said one of the main draws to music is the way it makes him feel.

Generally, Liu said he prefers to play happy or joyous music, but any emotion can be expressed through the piano and its connection to the human condition.

“It’s a language everyone can understand,” he said. “Like, if I want a piece to play very sad, they’ll get that it feels sad. It’s very important to get the character of the music.”

After his hard work and practice, Liu said his nerves hold steady when he plays in front of an audience.

“I’m not nervous,” he said. “I look forward to playing on the stage. I feel very confident.”

While Liu has undeniable natural talent, Spooner said, much of his success can also be attributed to his relentless desire to practice and the support from his parents.

“He’s very smart and he just has the work ethic,” Spooner said. “And his parents are wonderful. They’re right behind him, coming to every lesson. HIs mom comes in and takes notes and works with him at the house. He obviously has talent, but it’s a combination of the two.”

While they encourage his tenacity, Liu’s parents said he places large amounts of pressure on himself, especially nearing competitions.

Rather than pushing him harder, the couple tries to help their son release that pressure, Gaisheng Liu said.

“We want him to do well and to practice, but we feel we don’t want to push too hard,” he said. “When he wants to do something he wants to do it well, but he’s got to make that decision himself.”

When he’s not playing music, Liu said he enjoys playing tennis, soccer and basketball.

“But not volleyball,” he said. “I don’t want to hurt my fingers.”

Along with sports and other outdoor activities, Liu said he also enjoys his studies. He is currently set to enter the third grade at Quail Run Elementary School.

Liu plans on competing again at Kaufman Music Center in 2017. When he grows up, he wants to be a pianist, a goal both his parents and teacher support.

“I see a bright future for him,” Spooner said. “If this is what he wants to do later in life, I see endless possibilities for him. He has determination, consistency and discipline. And he really loves music.”