Hillary O’Sullivan has played the piano in Antarctica. Photo: HandoutEvery week, Talking Points gives you a worksheet to practise your reading comprehension with exercises about the story we’ve written.
Hillary O’Sullivan glanced at the glaciers and icebergs surrounding her, noting the occasional penguin or seal in the distance. Without ski gloves to protect her hands from the chill, she slowly clenched and unclenched her fingers, before beginning to play the piano keys.
“It was a special feeling. One time, a seabird got curious about what I was doing on the piano and came so close to me and stayed for a couple of minutes looking at my fingers. It was really funny!” the 14-year-old Singaporean said.
As the key opinion ambassador for the Antarctic Climate Expedition, Hillary had been invited to play the piano in Antarctica in 2023 to advocate for awareness about climate change.
The teen shared that she had always wanted to use her music to highlight the impact of climate change, and this was the perfect reason for her to travel from Singapore to the “white continent”, where she performed Rhapsody of a Changing Antarctic by Belgian composer Eric Bettens.
“The song was written to show both the beauty and the damage in Antarctica caused by climate change,” Hillary said.
She highlighted one issue particularly close to her heart: how rising sea levels are affecting wildlife.
“We all have a role to play in protecting the planet, no matter how small or big it is, and that means that everyone needs to play their part,” she said.
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Playing advocate
Hillary’s journey with the piano began when she was three years old. She learned how to play the piano from her mother, Elaine Lim.
Lim noted that her daughter’s achievements were a result of hard work and dedication.
“Learning the piano is an intense discipline, and sometimes, there doesn’t seem to be an end game to it. Behind every minute of beautiful music any musician plays, are hours of focused concentration, frustrations and hard work,” she stressed.
But Hillary’s early piano training taught her perseverance, and it has now opened up opportunities for her to travel around the world and use her music to draw attention to climate change.
In 2023, she visited Bhutan and played for the king, who surprised her with a hug after her performance.
“It felt really inspiring because I got to meet a king and also a person who cared a lot about our Earth and our environment,” Hillary said.
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In January, the pianist played Rhapsody of a Changing Antarctic at a dinner for Singapore’s judiciary. Also in attendance was the city state’s leader, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
The teenager reflected on how she felt during these high-profile performances.
“Emotionally, whenever I’m performing music about environmental issues, I feel a connection to the people and landscapes that are in danger,” she said.
“Knowing that my music can bring awareness to others about climate change makes me feel a sense of responsibility.”
‘Start with what you care about’
While these high-pressure events could unnerve even the most seasoned player, Hillary takes them in stride, viewing them as part of her role as an ambassador.
Her meticulous practice routine also helps her maintain her composure. When playing a new song, she usually begins by playing slowly with only one hand and focusing on memorisation. Once she is comfortable, she moves to both hands, without the pedals or the score. Finally, she plays the piece at full speed with the pedals – but entirely from memory.
“This process helps me fully memorise the piece so that even if I’m nervous, I won’t forget the notes,” the musician explained.
To support her daughter’s environmental work, Lim has produced a short documentary titled The Girl and Her Piano, released last October. The film follows Hillary’s journey to Bhutan and highlights the urgent environmental problems in the Himalayas – particularly the threat to Bhutan’s glaciers.
Lim hopes the music, storytelling and visual arts help people connect with the film in a way that words cannot.
As for Hillary, her commitment to fighting climate change continues. In July, she will be performing in the Arctic to highlight the plight of the region’s animals.
“As long as you start with what you care about, everything else will follow, and together, we can create a more environmentally friendly world,” she said.
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