Music Maker

In many ways, Alma Deutscher is like other 11-year-olds. She climbs trees, dances, reads, draws, and skips rope. But Alma, who lives in Dorking, England, can claim some very special accomplishments. She composed a full opera and brought it to the stage. The opera is a retelling of Cinderella. It was first performed on December 29, 2016, in Vienna, Austria.

"I've loved Cinderella since I was 3," Alma told TFK. But her version has a twist. Cinderella is a composer. She creates a melody that she sings to the prince before fleeing the ball. "He remembers the beginning but not how it went on," Alma says. The prince realizes that only Cinderella would know how the melody continues. He uses that melody to find her.

Alma stands next to a sign for her opera, in Vienna, Austria.

A Long Road

A sold-out crowd attended the first performance of Cinderella. Alma, who plays the piano and violin, performed in the show. "It was something that was completely inside my head, and then it came to life," Alma says.

"It's incredible." Alma has big plans. Next, she wants to compose a piano concerto and write a novel, a movie, and the music for the movie.

Alma has advice for kids who want to follow their dream and achieve a big goal. "It's a lot of work," Alma says. "But if you love what you are doing, it doesn't feel like hard work. Don't let anyone stop you from doing it."