In the quiet suburbs of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, most eight-year-olds are busy with school projects, sports, or playground games. But for Ann Win, life is measured in scales, arpeggios, and the timeless melodies of the great masters. To Ann, the piano isn’t just an instrument; it is a “music wonderland†where she can retreat from the noise of the world. On the global stage of Little Big Shots, Ann proved that while she may be small in stature, her musical soul is vast enough to fill the grandest concert halls.
Ann’s journey began at the tender age of three. While most toddlers are just mastering their ABCs, Ann was already discovering the relationship between her fingertips and the black-and-white keys. By the time she was six, her talent had transcended “gifted†and entered the realm of the extraordinary. Her mother, recognizing a once-in-a-generation spark, recorded a video of Ann playing and sent it to the world-renowned Juilliard School in New York City.
Within days, they received an invitation for a live audition—an opportunity most adult musicians spend a lifetime chasing.
The audition was a historic moment. At just six years old, Ann Win became the youngest pianist ever accepted into the Juilliard School’s prestigious Pre-College Division. When Steve Harvey asked her if she was nervous about performing for the world’s toughest musical critics, her response was pure, unbothered confidence: “Not at all.†To Ann, music is joy, and the pressure of a high-stakes audition was simply another chance to share that joy.
Now eight years old, Ann’s dedication to her craft is staggering. She doesn’t just play the music of others; she is a prolific composer in her own right, having already written “several books of pieces.†Her commitment is so deep that she describes the piano as her oxygen. “When I can’t play the piano,†she told Harvey, “I feel like I’ve lost my best friend.â€
One of the most charming moments of Ann’s appearance was her staunch defense of classical music. When Harvey asked if she ever dipped into the world of Rock & Roll, Ann gave a hilariously thoughtful explanation for why she avoids it. “Every time I hear the drum beat, my heart seems to come out of my body,†she said, noting that the intensity of modern rock is “too strong†for her delicate sensibilities.
However, she did admit to a single foray into the world of pop: the global hit “Despacito.†While she didn’t know the lyrics, she played a snippet of the tune, much to the delight of the audience. Steve Harvey, in his signature style, tried to sing along with his own improvised “Proto-ito†version, creating a comedic bridge between the world of high art and late-night television.
The highlight of the evening was when Ann sat down at the grand piano to perform Frédéric Chopin’s “Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66 in C# Minor.â€Â This piece is notorious among pianists for its “polyrhythmic†complexity—the right hand plays sixteenth notes while the left hand plays triplets, requiring immense coordination and emotional nuance.
As her hands began to fly across the keys, the studio transformed. The speed of her fingers was a blur, yet every note was crisp, clear, and intentional. She navigated the thunderous, dramatic sections and the gentle, lyrical middle movement with the grace of a professional three times her age. You could see her eyes close as she “ignored all the stuff around her,†fully immersed in her wonderland.
The audience sat in stunned silence until the final chord resonated through the room, at which point they erupted into a massive standing ovation. Steve Harvey, visibly moved by the sheer technical mastery displayed by such a young girl, could only shout, “Great job, darling! I love it!â€
Ann Win represents the very best of what Little Big Shots aims to showcase: the raw, uninhibited potential of the human spirit. She isn’t a “star†because of fame or social media; she is a star because she has mastered a difficult craft through thousands of hours of practice and a genuine, bone-deep love for the music.
As she continues her studies at Juilliard, Ann Win is more than just a record-breaker. She is a reminder that excellence knows no age, and that the most profound “joy†can often be found in eighty-eight keys and a heart full of song.
Click the video below to watch the incredible Ann Win perform on Little Big Shots: