Opal Garg, who is nine, started learning piano at age four under Dr Joan Forsyth at Third Street Music School Settlement. An EDA McFarlane Clark Piano Honors student, she plays regularly in master classes and has performed at the Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall), Steinway Hall, and Leonard Nimoy Thalia (Symphony Space). For four consecutive years, she was selected to perform at Third Street’s Stowe C Phelps Annual Concert. This spring, she was selected to participate in Manhattan School of Music’s 2025 Summer Program for Classical Piano.
A precocious collaborative pianist, Opal plays in piano ensembles and participates in Third Street’s Barbara E Field Chamber Music Program. Her ensemble was selected for this January’s master class with two-time Grammy winning Attacca Quartet.
In April 2025 Opal debuted at Merkin Hall after winning both the First Prize of her age group and the Dina Koston Women Composers Award of the prestigious Honors Program Competition of Piano Teachers’ Congress of New York, the first solo competition she ever participated in. She is also twice recipient of the State Award of the RCM Piano Certificate Program. She has performed frequently, including at The Village Trip Festival, since she was five years old.
In addition to music, Opal enjoys a variety of academic and athletic interests. A voracious reader and STEM enthusiast, she also loves creative writing, art, chess, and swimming. She plays squash occasionally and ice skates for fun.
September 20 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Classical Cool! Kids’ Concert hosted by Nina Bernstein Simmons