His repertoire boasts Brahms, Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach and his talents as a violinist have taken him to the U.S. and Europe.
He's also excelled as concertmaster in the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Fifteen-year-old Richmondite Royce Richert, however, is just as happy cycling, swimming or jogging while plugged into some electronic pop music or a verse or two of R&B. The dedicated teen prodigy - who will be one of the star attractions at CARP Richmond's "Music, the Language of All Cultures" event June 10 - plans to keep it local this year, honing his skills with an eye to the future.
"I think I'll just be performing around town and practising new pieces; there are no plans to travel this year," said Royce, who lives in east Cambie with his three younger siblings, all of whom are home-schooled by his former teacher-mom, Tamara.
"My biggest goal later in life is to perform solo in big arenas and also going around schools exposing children to music."
While the dreams of filling stadiums, theatres and opera houses arrest Royce's thoughts, the reality is he has to make sacrifices as a teenager to have any chance of realizing those lofty ambitions.
"Yeah, when friends are having sleepovers and stuff and trips to the movies, there are times I have to miss out due to practices and rehearsals," Royce admitted.
"But I do manage to make time during the week for the occasional movie night with the guys and I do a lot of swimming, cycling and running when I can. "I'm very active when the time permits but I do love what I do."
The theme of CARP's concert is bringing cultures of all kinds together with music and it's a concept Royce is very excited about.
"Music can bond us all, friends, across cultures, music is such a universal language," added Royce.
Music, The Language of all Cultures is on Tuesday, June 10 at Fraserview Church hall, 11295 Mellis Drive. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 on the night via [email protected] or at Long and McQuade, 6760 No. 3 Road and Tom Lee Music, 3631 No. 3 Road.
The evening also features renowned VSO conductor and Canadian maestro Bramwell Tovey, who will be performing as well as speaking on the theme of music as a universal language.
A whole host of rising, musically-gifted stars will perform along with Royce.
