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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 beginning to play the piano.
“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 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 travelled 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.
The teen shared one issue that she is especially worried about: 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.
Examining the climate crisis beyond CO2
A message for the world
The teen pianist has gone all around the world, using her skills to show people how climate change is affecting 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 environmental problems in the country, where glaciers are shrinking because of climate change. Released last October, the film is called The Girl and Her Piano.
In January, the young pianist played Rhapsody of a Changing Antarctic at a dinner for Singapore’s judiciary. The city state’s leader, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, was also there.
Hillary reflected on her performances, saying: “Knowing that my music can bring awareness to others about climate change makes me feel a sense of responsibility.”
Looking ahead, Hillary’s commitment to fighting climate change continues. In July, she will perform in the Arctic to highlight the struggles of the animals there.
Perseverance on the piano
Hillary started learning how to play the piano when she was three years old. Her mother, Lim, taught her how to play the instrument.
The teen learned how to persevere thanks to her early piano training. Now, as she plays at big events with important people in the audience, she has a routine that helps her play well.
“This process helps me fully memorise the piece so that even if I’m nervous, I won’t forget the notes,” she explained.
When learning a new song, she usually begins by playing slowly with only one hand and focusing on memorisation. Then, 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.
While Hillary uses her skills as a pianist to be a voice for change, she hopes to inspire others to also 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.
To test your understanding of this story, download our printable worksheet or answer the questions in the quiz below.
