Christina said she knows people don't think her talent is as "cool" as dancing, playing sports or singing pop music. Not many teenagers, or teachers, appreciate classical music or want to discuss the tone, texture or style of a piece, she said. And when she does win competitions, she doesn't get much recognition because no one cares.

"I have no one to talk to about piano," she said. "It's not a big deal [to people.]"

Still, Christina said she is not discouraged and plans to continue competing.

Recently, Christina got the chance to play in a recital at Carnegie Hall in New York City as a finalist in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition.

She was one of nine students who won a first place spot in the high school division from applicants worldwide. A competition spokesman said he could not disclose the number of applicants but DVD entrees were received from 18 countries.

Cosmo Buono, the competition's artistic director, wrote in an e-mail: "Christina Qi played Beethoven's 'Waldstein' sonata, an extremely difficult work, with both enormous insight and technical aplomb."

Christina, who lives in Sandy, said she was in shock when she heard that she would be playing at Carnegie Hall in mid-May because it's so famous. She also said many of the contestants are home-schooled, practicing hours and hours a day, while she goes to public school where she doesn't get to train much.

"It was amazing," she said of Carnegie Hall. "I can't even believe I was there."

Being a contest finalist was a milestone achievement, Christina said, because up until a few years ago, she didn't realize her talent. She thought everyone could play the piano like she does.

Christina, who was born in China but raised in Utah, started playing an electric keyboard that her parents bought her for her fourth birthday. She was enrolled in classes shortly after that. Her mom, Hope Zhang, was surprised that Christina paid so much attention to her keyboard, sometimes playing for hours.

"She figured it out before we did," Zhang said. "I could see she enjoyed it."

Her first competition was at age 6, and she won first place for playing a piece by Bach. As she has competed throughout the years, Zhang has hung Christina's certificates on the walls of her practice room with a Boston baby grand piano in their Sandy home. Zhang also often has a gift for Christina after she has competed, despite how she does.

"I always want to make her feel like she is the best," Zhang said.

Christina said her parents have never forced her to pursue piano.

"I'm the one who pushes myself," she said.

Christina, who also teaches piano lessons, said she often doesn't use sheet music because she memorizes the music so fast. She can also listen to a cell phone tune or commercial jingle and play it without seeing the music.

"It's weird," she said jokingly. "[The music] is in my head."

Still, she always looks forward to practicing about twice a month with her teacher Gary Amano, the Utah State University piano program director. She likes learning about how to communicate with the audience and play different pieces of music, depending on the composers and their styles.

"Even if you get all the notes right, that's not music," she said. "I need to practice more."

jsanchez@sltrib.com