Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
Hillary O’Sullivan looked at the glaciers and icebergs surrounding her. Far away, she could see penguins and seals.
The 14-year-old had no gloves to protect her hands from the cold, so she slowly warmed them up before playing the piano.
“It was a special feeling. Once, a seabird got curious about what I was doing on the piano and came close to me and stayed for a couple of minutes looking at my fingers. It was hilarious!” the Singaporean said.
Hillary was a key opinion ambassador for the Antarctic Climate Expedition in 2023.
She had been invited to play the piano in Antarctica as a way of telling people about the effects of climate change.
For this event, Hillary went from Singapore to the “white continent” to play “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,” she said. Hillary reflected on her performances: “Knowing that my music can bring awareness to others about climate change makes me feel a sense of responsibility.”
A message for the world
The teen pianist has gone worldwide, using her skills to show people how climate change affects these places.
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.
Her mother, Elaine Lim, has made a short documentary about Hillary’s time in Bhutan.
It shows the country’s environmental problems, such as glaciers shrinking because of climate change.
Released last October, the film is called The Girl and Her Piano.
Looking ahead, Hillary’s commitment to fighting climate change continues. She will perform in the Arctic in July to highlight the animals’ struggles.
Perseverance on the piano
Hillary started learning to play the piano when she was three.
Her mother taught her how to play the instrument.
While Hillary uses her skills as a pianist to be a voice for change, she hopes to inspire others to use their abilities to raise awareness about climate change.
“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.
Use the puzzle below to test your knowledge of the vocabulary words in the story.
Sample answers
Stop and think: Hillary’s performance in Antarctica was meant to inform people about the effects of climate change.
Think about it: Hillary went to Bhutan to play piano for the King. Her mother made a short documentary about the trip.
Read and answer: Hillary has been playing the piano for about 11 years.
