title: Noah Waddell
text: # Noah Waddell
  
  Noah Waddell (born (2001-04-15)April 15, 2001) is an American pianist. He gained national attention as an award-winning 12-year-old pianist playing classical music compositions for patients at a local hospital in Fort Myers, Florida.
  
  ## Career
  
  Noah Waddell was born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. At seven years old, he became interested in piano and began weekly lessons in addition to his homeschooling. His father, Barry is a real estate broker and former professional tennis player. His mother, Anita, is a former teacher.
  
  Waddell's career began soon after he started taking piano lessons. He has participated in many competitions, including the annual Florida Federation of Music Clubs competition with over 2,000 competitors. He won first place in the FFMC competition in both solo repertoire and senior concerto competitions in 2013, as well as the Irene Muir and overall performance award, where he was the youngest winner in over 100 years. He won first place again in May 2015 for his solo performance- an extremely difficult Rachmaninoff piece. Waddell was the overall winner at the event held in May 2014. Waddell has also appeared on the PBS TV Show, "Curious Kids," and has been featured on NBC and Wink TV.
  
  Waddell was one of eight pianists chosen to participate in the Sergei Babayan International Piano Academy at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and he attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia on a full scholarship for the Summer 2013 semester. Waddell made his orchestral debut with the Tampa Bay symphony performing Beethoven's 3rd Concerto. He has played several times with this symphony, most recently in June 2015.
  
  ### Discography
  
  * Noah Waddell Classical Piano Masterworks
  
  ## Philanthropy
  
  As part of the Arts in Healthcare program, Waddell volunteers his time to play piano at the Fort Myers Health Park Medical Center and other local hospitals on a weekly basis.
  
  In 2013, Waddell hosted Noah's Concert for the Kids at the Big Arts Performance Center on Sanibel Island. The event raised over $30,000 for the new children's hospital at Healthpark.
  
  ## Awards
  
  | Year | Award | Location | Result |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 2011 | FGCU Steinway Young Artist Competition | Naples, FL | First prize |
  | 2012 | FGCU Steinway Young Artist Competition | Naples, FL | First place |
  | 2012 | Justin Lebaron Young Artist Competition | St. Petersburg College | First place |
  | 2013 | Florida Federation of Music Clubs Competition | Northwest Florida State College | Solo repertoire winner; Senior concerto winner; Irene Muir Overall winner |
  | 2013 | 27th Annual Tampa Bay Symphony Concerto Competition | Clearwater, FL | First place |
  | 2014 | Miami Young Artist Chopin Competition | Miami, FL | First place |
  | 2014 | Florida Federation of Music Clubs Competition | Jacksonville, FL | Connie Tuttle-Lill All performance winner |
  | 2014 | International Keyboard Odyssiad Piano Competition | Ft. Collins, Colorado | First place |
  