By Cam Lucadou-Wells
There was a sublime meeting of musical minds at Insight Education Centre for the Blind and Vision Impaired on 21 February.
In the school’s music room, 15-year-old student and prodigy Francesca Lachman free-jammed for an hour with two US-based accomplished performers – Grammy award-winning pianist and percussionist Alberto Lopez and poet-rapper Oveous Maximus.
Her father and school founder Alan Lachman said the two visitors were left with their “mouths hanging” after the session – in which Francesca was unafraid to take the lead.
“They were clearly surprised and amazed by the complexity of what Francesca was able to do, ad hoc.
“It was the first chance Francesca was able to connect to other world-class performers live in that way.”
Mr Lachman said an unabashed Francesca went into beatbox mode as her visitors first walked into the room.
“Musically, she’s absolutely not shy,” Mr Lachman said.
“She becomes a different human being. She doesn’t care if you’re world famous – as long as you’re good, she’ll engage.”
Mr Lachman recalls a time when Francesca composed a four-movement classical piece in 40 minutes in front of a journalist.
“There were no errors, just expressions of emotions.
“For her, everything is tied to an emotion or movement.”
After starting piano at 2, Francesca – who also plays guitar and percussion – is set to embark on the public stage.
She’s launched her website, with U-tube clips, recordings and a list of her encounters with other world-class performers such as classical musician Alan Kogosowski.
Oveous Maximus will meanwhile return to the school to again meet Francesca and other students in coming weeks.
Francesca’s website is at francescalachman.com.
