11-year-old making musical magic

CLEVELAND - Samuel Nunoo is a shy 11-year-old who prefers to let his fingers do his talking.  "I like playing it [the piano] for other people and learning the songs," he said.

From Beethoven to Burgmuller, Samuel plays like a professional concert pianist.  But he's a 5th grader studying piano at the Cleveland School of the Arts. "He just has a hunger for music," Diana White-Gould, his music teacher, said.

Samuel's mother, Davorah, said she introduced her oldest child to piano four years ago at the Cleveland Music Settlement and he took to it right away, performing at a recital within six months.  "This is his gift from God," she said.

Samuel's been accepted to the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy summer camp in Michigan where he'll study piano and music theory for two weeks with students from all over the world. 

He's already raised the $3100 tuition, and students at Magnificat High School who recently met the young prodigy held a bake sale to help with some of his other expenses. However, Samuel still needs to pay for things like transportation, a uniform, and luggage. 

Samuel's family fell on hard times over the past year.  Devorah lost her job and the family lost their home in the foreclosure crisis.  But Samuel never lost his passion for music, and he plans to make it his career one day.  

For information on how you can help Samuel go Interlochen, call Diana White-Gould at the Cleveland School of the Arts, (216) 361-0708.