A Girl Prodigy

Claire Brynne Lewis is an amazing young lady who graduated from Pathways Academy High School and Palomar College at 13, the youngest graduate from Palomar ever. Along with being a very intelligent girl, she is very talented on the piano and 6 other instruments. Besides piano, her favorite, she also plays, violin, guitar, flute, clarinet, ukulele, and the cello. When I asked her who, or what, inspired her to start playing piano? She said, “Little Einsteins TV program.” When she was about 6 years old. She started to play, “Für Elise”, one of the songs from an episode, of Little Einsteins on the piano by listening to the song a little, pausing the program, and attempting to find the notes on the piano. She continued to memorize it by ear. Soon she found she could play the complete song by ear, even though she couldn’t read music.

In 2014, I met Claire at school on my first day. She was in my first class, and we were partners in an assignment for making a marble track out of foam, dominoes, and marble. We soon became good friends and enjoyed talking about a great many things. Claire is very modest and did not hint to the fact she was smarter then most, in anyway. I was quite surprised to find out she graduated so fast. I didn’t find out until a few months ago that she had graduated in May of 2017.

Claire has earned many awards in her life so far. She received a County of San Diego California Proclamation award, given to her by Bill Horn, the supervisor of San Diego. Some of the things proclaimed in the award were, at 9 years old she wanted to learn faster so she talked to her parents about home schooling. At the age of 10 she proceeded to join Pathways Academy for home school students. There she took Government, Economics and English. Besides her classes at Pathways, she took classes in Calculus, advanced History, Geography, and Geology, at Palomar. One thing that her first professor, Annette Squires, noticed about Claire was, her feet could not touch the floor while sitting in class. The city council of San Marcos also gave her an achievement award. Claire has received several awards performing in Musical competitions.

When we went to her

house for the interview she gladly played piano for us. It was very lovely, my grandma, who was with me said,” I got goose pumps just listening to her and watching how passionate she was when she played.” Other than piano she informed me her favorite past time was Clogging, a dance similar to tap. She had decided to do this when she needed more activities for PE., but soon found, the dance was fun and that she really enjoyed it.

For the months she has been applying to colleges. She has been invited to three very prestigious colleges to audition and attempt to get accepted. These colleges are US C, Curtis Institute of Music, in \Philadelphia, and Boston Conservatory.

The director of Pathways, Carol McIntosh, helped Claire and her Mom when she first started home-school toward the right direction and helped them choose classes for Claire. Claire’s Mom said. “I could not have done this without Carol

holding my hand and guiding us in the right direction with regards to furthering Claire’s education.” Claire, has been certified as a tutor, and at the moment while waiting to be accepted to a college, has a job tutoring students at Palomar in Calculus 1. Besides Tutoring, she also plays in

By Kiriann Booth

Photos courtesy of Claire Brynne Lewis

two Orchestras, San Diego Civic Youth, and Palomar College Symphony Orchestra. She volunteers teaching in San Marcos Youth Strings, serving as Vice President.

Claire, expressed to me that when she graduates from college she would love to become an Orchestral Conductor. She seemed very definite on this decision.

For those young and upcoming musicians, the San Marcos Youth Strings, is a great program. Claire would like to promote this program, that meets at the Gateway Church on Fridays from 4-6. This is a great opportunity for children that want to start playing a string instrument or one who wants to be able to practice and learn more in an orchestra setting.

As you see, Claire is truly a Child Prodigy, besides being a really good friend. It is not everyday that one meets someone as special in so many ways as Claire, and also lucky enough to call her my friend, too!