Russian teen plays the piano despite being born without hands

[Romanov is an inspiration that shows that mental strength can exceed physical limitations/YouTube]

In less than two years of playing the piano, 15-year-old Alexei Romanov has won music competitions, played with a chamber orchestra, become an Internet sensation and even performed on TV.

As incredible as that is by itself, he did all that despite being born without hands.

It all started when the Russian teen was adopted by his parents two years ago. They noticed his interest in the arts and bought him a synthesizer, The Huffington Post says.

Romanov then worked with his music teacher who helped him play music from films like Twilight and Titanic, and he demonstrated tremendous initiative along the way.

“If I liked something I would find the notes and try to understand it myself,” The Independent says Romanov told Ruptly TV. “If I didn’t understand something then teachers would help me.”

His friends showed him support, too.

“I was particularly helped by two of my female friends. The girls taught me the basics of music – they told me how to read notes. They still help me,” Romanov told Russia Beyond the Headlines. “They send me sheet music, which I study, and if I like something, I let it settle inside me.”

In February, he was invited to join a music school after a performance with the La Primavera chamber orchestra impressed, and in March, he played “River Flows in You” for TV project Guests from Tomorrow, which garnered a lot of attention.

While seemingly superhuman, Romanov does still get nervous like the rest of us.

“During the concert with the orchestra I was shaking from the tension. I can’t even remember what was happening,” Romanov said to Russia Beyond the Headlines.

“But there was nothing I could do: I walked onto the stage, sat down and started playing. I felt my knees shaking. Then I realized that I was doing well – it’s as if the melody started flowing by itself. And so I calmed down.”

To hear him for yourself, check out Romanov playing “River Flows in You” in his viral video, which has received nearly 300,000 hits since it was uploaded in February.