Imagine an eight-year-old girl taking the stage at a jazz club, surrounded by seasoned musicians, and then blowing everyone away with her trumpet. No this isn’t out of a movie, it actually happened. Meet Kwak Dakyung, a young jazz prodigy from Korea who became an internet sensation with her performance at the Groove Jazz Club in Seoul in 2018.
Kwak was no ordinary child. She had something special up her sleeve—a talent so immense it could fill the room. She performed the rendition of “Autumn Leaves” that began with a smooth, melodic solo on the trumpet. The shouts of disbelief that came after were evidence of what they were witnessing: something inherently rare. I mean, when’s the last time an 8-year-old brought down the house like a seasoned pro?
A Young Girl Suddenly Joins Jazz Stage And Plays Trumpet So Amazingly
It has gone viral on Youtube, with over 8.7 million views. And it’s easy to see why. Kwak’s jazz standard take was so classy we thought we might need to put a black tie on. Armed with the elevated ear for melody and groove she developed as a masterful jazz vocalist, she offered a version of “Autumn Leaves” that left everyone stunned. Viral Music is nothing if not about the discovery and dedication to the most stellar young prospects around, and Kwak is a player to watch!
But she wasn’t done yet. After her stunning solo at the start of the song, Kwak handed the stage over to the baritone saxophonist for his turn. But just before the seven-minute mark, she jumped back in, harmonizing with the sax player in a way only a true musician could. And the best part? She didn’t have any sheet music in front of her. Everything was by ear, a true sign that she felt the music in her soul. You have to admire that kind of skill.
[46만뷰] Feel So Good (7 Years old Trumpeter) – 곽다경 (Jazz Trumpet / Kwak Da Kyung)
Kwak’s performance at Groove Club in Seoul wasn’t a one-time wonder either. At just 14 years old today, she’s still wowing audiences with her trumpet skills. And if you think that’s impressive, check out another viral video from when Kwak was only 7. In it, she absolutely nails Chuck Mangione’s “Feels So Good” in a solo performance that’s earned almost a million views on YouTube. Talk about talent!
Music fans online couldn’t get enough of her, and many shared their thoughts in the comments, saying things like,”Brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes simultaneously. Wonderful!” and “She’s doing all this without sheet music, which shows she really gets the music. Her ear for it is incredible.” There’s no denying this girl has what it takes. Kwak’s been playing the trumpet since she was four years old and performed at a jazz club for the first time at age six. Her dad is also a jazz musician, so it’s no surprise that she’s grown up immersed in music. And with her ongoing education in both classical and jazz trumpet, there’s no telling how far she’ll go.
Want to hear more from Kwak? Subscribe to her YouTube channel for such impressive performance or you can follow her on Instagram to keep up with her singin success. Trust me, this is one artist you won’t want to miss.