Sara Bermudez is an eighteen year old high school senior who has accumulated seven years of piano playing experience. After difficult beginnings of being unsure why her fingers did not seem as strong as other pianists’, she realized her wobbly finger joints were not a standalone issue but a result of an underlying connective tissue disorder. Now, she wears special splint rings that grant her the ability to play like she was always meant to. Sara’s biggest hurdle, however, was a deep fear of performing. At first, it seemed playing in front of a crowd would forever remain terrifying, but after two years of volunteering to play at a local nursing home, her love of performing has grown immensely. Sara hopes to advance in her piano journey by continuing her lessons and performing wherever the opportunity arises.
Watch Sara Bermudez perform Once Upon a December by Stephen Flaherty for the 2026 International Piano Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.