Dressed in a stunning ruby gown, 18-year-old Sophia Thacker sat at a Steinway piano, her hands resting on her lap. As a dual-credit student, she gazed at the conductor through the thick lenses of her glasses, attentively listening to the orchestra, waiting for her cue.
When the moment arrived, her fingers danced across the ivory keys, playing a beautiful melody.
Thacker earned the chance to perform with the orchestra during their spring concert after winning a TCC concerto competition. Born with optic nerve atrophy, a genetic condition that left her legally blind, she has found ways to navigate challenges and reach this remarkable achievement.
“This is just my life,” she shared. “This is what I know. Sometimes I think, ‘What do normal people see?’ and then I realize, ‘This is normal.’”
Growing up in a musical family, Thacker was homeschooled throughout her education. Six of her ten siblings played piano, and she first learned through one of her sisters. At age 7, she officially began piano lessons, practicing five times a week on average and regularly competing in music contests.
“I grew up surrounded by music,” Thacker said. “Some families are into sports; some do other things. In our family, piano was the focus.”
Faith plays a significant role in both her music and her life. One of her reasons for learning the piano was to play in church one day.
“Playing hymns, singing hymns to God, just praising God, and making music to glorify Him—that’s what matters,” she explained. “Your talents are gifts, and using them to bless others is one way to honor God.”
Thacker has studied under NE music adjunct Sarah Alexander for five years. Alexander describes Thacker as having one of the strongest work ethics she has encountered among her students.
“She has to work twice as hard to learn her music,” Alexander noted. “It’s just more difficult for her to initially learn and then perform. She faces unique challenges compared to sighted musicians.”
Thacker cannot easily read sheet music, so she primarily learns her pieces by ear. She records herself and uses professional performances as references to guide her.
“When I was younger, people taught me the notes,” Thacker recalled. “As I got older, I either magnified the music or used my iPad to enlarge it.”
Last December, Thacker performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 18 in B-flat Major for a TCC concerto competition. The annual contest gives the winner the opportunity to perform with the Tarrant County Orchestra during the spring concert.
She had been working on the piece since the previous summer and became deeply invested in it.
“I liked the musical feel of it, how it flowed,” Thacker said. “Then my teacher told me that Mozart wrote it for a blind pianist, which drew me in even more.”
The day of the competition, Thacker arrived just in time to perform after getting caught in traffic. Despite being nervous, she focused on the music.
“As long as my fingers are working, the nerves disappear, and I just enjoy playing the piece,” she said.
The judges unanimously selected Thacker as the winner.
Performing with an orchestra as a soloist had always been a dream for Thacker, and now, at 18, she had achieved something many musicians only dream of.
For weeks, Thacker practiced with the orchestra to prepare for the performance. NE music adjunct and Tarrant County Orchestra conductor Bryan English worked with Thacker and Alexander to synchronize the piano solo with the orchestral accompaniment.
“It’s a collaboration,” English said. “When you’re young, you feel a lot of pressure. You don’t want to let the orchestra, the conductor, or the audience down. But that’s what we signed up for.”
Alexander emphasized how special it was for Thacker to rehearse and perform with a full orchestra.
“It takes a lot of courage, especially for someone visually impaired,” Alexander said. “She can sort of see the conductor, but not fully. She relies heavily on her hearing and her own visual cues to follow the conductor.”
While music is an important part of Thacker’s life, her true passion lies in political science. She developed an interest in constitutional law after taking an American government class in 2023 and plans to pursue a career in political science. However, she intends to continue playing the piano.
“I’d love to play the piano in hospitals for people,” she said. “I think it could bless others. Everything I do, I want to honor God.”
During the final moments of her orchestra performance, Thacker played intricate melodies and scales, her fingers moving effortlessly across the keys. As the last notes of her solo echoed, the orchestra concluded the concerto with a drawn-out string melody.
The audience erupted into applause. Thacker stood, bowed, and acknowledged the support of her family, friends, and strangers. A family member handed her a bouquet of flowers as the applause continued.
Alexander expressed immense pride in Thacker’s accomplishments and believes the experience will remain a cherished memory for her.
“I hope this gives her confidence in life,” Alexander said. “It shows that if she sets her mind to something, she can achieve it. I hope this moment stays with her forever, along with the lesson that she can do anything she puts her heart into.”
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