Biography

Lele has embraced the life of a musician since the age of three, when her passion and talent for the piano first became evident. Her artistry quickly garnered national and international recognition, earning top prizes in prestigious competitions such as the Paderewski International Piano Competition, San Francisco International Piano Competition, Steinway Junior Piano Competition, International Youth Music Competition, and NYYPP Music Competition. She is also the recipient of the Judge Distinguished Award at both the Seattle International Piano Festival and the American Protégé International Competition.

Her performances have captivated audiences far beyond the competition stage. Lele received a standing ovation from over 3,000 audience members and four celebrity judges at America’s Got Talent in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. She has shared her music and story with millions of viewers through appearances on NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show, and has been invited to perform at notable venues including the United Nations Headquarters and the Memorial Chapel of Union College.

While she treasures performing on world-class stages, Lele finds equal joy in bringing music closer to her community, whether at senior centers, neighborhood celebrations, charity concerts, or fundraisers. During the pandemic, she partnered with a nonprofit to bring comfort through her piano to frontline medical workers and those in need at hospitals and care facilities. For her dedication, she received certificates of merit from both the New York State Assembly and her school district superintendent. Her music and story have been featured by NBC News, Fox5 News, Newsday, and Long Island Press. Recently, Lele founded her own nonprofit, Play Positive Note, to inspire and empower other young musicians to give back through music.

Beyond her musical accomplishments, Lele is also an author, illustrator, and dedicated athlete. She brought her musical journey to life in her children’s picture book Lenna’s Music Adventure, which she both wrote and illustrated (the drawing above is one of her original works). She has claimed multiple golf titles, including T1 at the 2025 Notah Begay III New York Regional Final with scores of 74 and 69, and the WMGA 99th Junior Championship with a net score of 72. A two-time Drive, Chip, Putt Northeast Regional qualifier. She also holds three seasonal U.S. Kids Long Island Golf Championship titles. At just 12 years old, the youngest competitor, she qualified for the 2025 NYSGA Women’s Amateur Championship, showcasing her extraordinary potential in the sport.