Joshua Sun’s legs are just long enough to reach the pedals on his parent’s baby grand piano, but don’t let the 8-year-old’s size fool you.

If you closed your eyes to listen, you might otherwise think a well practiced adult was behind the keyboard.

The Issaquah boy is one of 25 youths who made the final round of King FM’s Ten Grands competition. The public voting ends Friday at www.King.org.

For the top 10 winners, it’s a chance to play on Seattle’s most well known stage, Benaroya Hall, and a shot at the grand prize, $1,000 scholarship.

Joshua’s talent is the result of hard work, but his interest was encouraged by his parents.

“We both love classical music,” said Victor, the father.

Before they started having children, they decided their kids would learn to play the piano, said mother, Renee.

Now all three of their boys are in piano lessons. Joshua started three years ago, after being inspired by his brother’s playing.

He attends lessons twice a week, and practices most nights.

Although learning piano was first driven by his parents, who insist he needs more practice, classical music is Joshua’s passion. Occasionally he’ll fall asleep to Chopin.

“I hope people will listen to more classical music, rather than pop and rock,” he said. “Classical music is good for you.”

Inspiring youths to be interested in classical music is a major focus of King FM, said program director Bryan Lowe.

“It’s not celebrated in most popular culture, but we feel it’s something that’s very important,” he said.

A couple years ago, Lowe attended a Ten Grand performance, which fills the stage with 10 grand pianos, when a few talented youth were invited to perform.

“When I heard, I was amazed,” he said, adding that he decided to offer the same opportunity to more youths.

Competition isn’t unfamiliar to classical community, where kids enter recitals most weekends from February to May, like an athletic season.

Not all of the finalists played classical music. Two teens played guitar in a popular style.

All of the five-minute videos were vetted, and 25 are online for voting through Feb. 18. The top 10 get to perform.

Joshua’s parents are pleased enough that he made it this far in the competition.

“It feels good,” Joshua said, adding that it would be “an honor” to play at Benaroya.

Six other area students are finalists in the Ten Grands Young Artist competition:

Benjamin Richardson, 12, Issaquah home school

Nathan Lee, 9, Sammamish, Samantha Smith Elementary

Karl Ronneburg, Sammamish, Redmond Junior High

Robert Yan, 10, Sammamish

Carly Ann Worden, 18, Sammamish, Bellevue College

Jay Grinols, 12, Sammamish, Samantha Smith Elementary and Seattle Japanese School

Joshua Sun plays a baby grand in his parents home.

Celeste Gracey/Issaquah Reporter