How a pianist with one hand is dazzling with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Now he reveals how he does it and the one key life lesson his parents taught him that every child should hear..
. By Jenny Johnson Published: 12:05 EDT, 11 June 2024 | Updated: 12:48 EDT, 11 June 2024 e-mail 2 View comments It's hard to say this politely, but Nicholas McCarthy really doesn't have pianist fingers. It comes as a shock.
'People always go on about elegant pianist hands and I think 'wait till you see my sausage fingers',' he admits, holding up a surprisingly squat-looking left hand. It is not a hand that screams 'concert pianist', he agrees. 'I have quite a small hand, and chubby fingers.
But the span is quite good, which helps'. Nicholas, 35, is indeed a concert pianist. Tomorrow he will perform with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the prestigious Cadogan Hall in London .
It will be a 'pinch-me' moment, he admits. 'A career highlight, absolutely.' Will the audience be marveling at the leaps up and down the keyboard he is able to execute, even with sausage fingers? Yes.
But those who watch him play will be astounded by something that is impossible for most to compute: Nicholas only has one hand. Those chubby fingers on his left hand are only a minor 'disability'. He was born with the lower portion of his other arm, his right arm, missing entirely.
It was not picked up in the womb. Nicholas McCarthy, 35, has defied the odds by becoming a professional pianist - despite having one hand..