11-year-old piano prodigy will play at Carnegie Hall

A local 11-year-old singer and piano prodigy on Sunday will display her talents at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York.

Brielle Kearney's first passion was gymnastics, but she broke both wrists in a fall, causing her to choose another path.

Kearney, along with her parents, relatives and friends, participated on Thursday in an 11-year celebration of an initiative called "SISI" or "Sisters Inspiring Sisters, Incorporated, held at the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh.

Terry Spicer, executive director of SISI, explains, “It's a leadership development mentoring initiative that teaches these girls to own the power of their voices and choices; the power of who they are.”

The SISI oath is often repeated by its participants: "I am committed to my excellence, personally, academically, physically and spiritually.“

“We give these girls tools but we also give them guidance and we hug them and we love them at every meeting to make certain that they know that they are enough, that they are valued,” said Spicer.

One of Kearney's special gifts is the gift of music. The first piano selection she performed Thursday at the Governor's Mansion was "Crimson" by Robert Starer. She closed her musical choices with a moving version of “Only Human," written by Ryan Mack.

Kearney said she chose pieces that may be challenging for any aspiring musician.

Her inspiration is the recent loss of her grandmother to cancer.

"That's really been an honor for me, to get to honor my grandmother like that in this way," she said.

Kearney's performance in Raleigh was a warm up for her next big gig.

“We all support her knowing that she's leaving the North Carolina executive mansion and heading up to Carnegie Hall," Spicer said. "Who could ask for more? She will cherish this for life.”

Kearney's Carnegie Hall performance will take place on May 5.