Celine Wu. Photo: Supplied / Young Stars of Brass
Celine Wu is only 10 years old but plays the trumpet like someone much older and with far bigger lungs.
She took up playing the trumpet at age 7 - has been the New Zealand under-15 champion two years in a row, and has performed at New York's famed Carnegie Hall.
She played there after winning first prize in the American Protégé Woodwind and Brass Competition in 2023 - aged only 8.
"I really love the hall, the chandeliers were super beautiful," she said, looking back on her early career highlight.
"There was a lot of people, but I think I played better in front of the audience."
Her trumpet journey started three years ago after trying a range of other instruments.
"I started with flute, piano and violin [but] the sound was super small and I don't really like it as a kid," she laughs.
"My mum found an old trumpet in my house and then she took it out for me to play around with and then I immediately made a sound.
"I really liked the sound, big, powerful and bold, it stands out."
She said it can be frustrating when she's not playing as well as she wants to.
But Wu is dedicated and has a clear goal, to be like another young female trumpet player, Austrian Selina Ott.
"She plays super well, my goal is to be the same as her.
"I can't say I'm good, and I can't say I'm bad, I think I'm ok for my age."
And while she has other hobbies, Wu said life for her would be boring without the trumpet.
"Cooking and drawing I would say it's just for extra time, [the] trumpet is, like, more fun and easier for your goals, I mean without trumpet it would be so boring.
"Before, I played so badly my lips were bleeding and I didn't play for a whole week, it just felt so empty."
Celine will be at this year's ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Browns Bay on Auckland's North Shore.
She said it's an honour to play the last post on ANZAC Day.
"When I was 8, I learned about ANZAC at school, I learned that soldiers sacrificed themselves.
"I never knew there was a tune called The Last Post on trumpet, so I asked my mum if I can play.
"[The RSA] said yes and auditioned me, now I'm playing right now, it's a big honour.
"I'm excited, and kind of not excited for waking up early."
Celine was the New Zealand under-15 champion player for 2023 and 2024 and is playing at the Young Stars of Brass concert at Takapuna Normal Intermediate this Sunday.
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