Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)’s Classical Piano Series and the Creative Arts Academy will welcome international piano legend Lang Lang in a special presentation of his renowned music education program 101 Pianists on Monday, April 29, 2024, at Tri-C’s Metro Auditorium.
Presented in partnership with the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, Roland Corporation, and Steinway Piano Gallery Cleveland, this community-centered event will showcase 100 young pianists selected from Northeast Ohio to join Lang Lang for a unique master class and public performance that celebrates the beauty and social nature of the piano.
The 101 Pianists series is the brainchild of Lang Lang. Its mission is to share classical music with children around the world, as well as offer piano students a way to perform as a group in more of a social setting, similar to the experience had by their peers who participate in school bands and orchestras. “I started 101 Pianists to give piano students an opportunity to play together,” says Lang Lang. “It started about 15 years ago at one of my concerts where I invited students to join me for an encore – and we had a wonderful time. So, I wanted to do more of these events as a workshop and also a performance for the community. It’s now one of the key programs of my foundation.”
Since its premiere in 2009, the program has inspired over 1,400 piano students in 15 cities around the world. Cleveland is privileged to be one of only 5 other U.S. cities to present Lang Lang’s program, including Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Long Island. Highlights of the 101 Pianists in Long Island can be viewed here.
Following his appearance on April 29th, Lang Lang will join the Cleveland Orchestra on May 2 and 4 for performances of the Saint-Saen Piano Concerto No. 2. at Severance Music Center.
Tri-C’s Creative Arts Academy, under the direction of Steinway Artist Emanuela Friscioni, will organize the selection process and the event. Piano instructors throughout Northeast Ohio are invited to recommend students between ages 6-18 to who possess strong musical ability, have some performance experience, and who demonstrate an ability to work and respond in a group setting.
The program will feature two musical selections to be performed with Lang Lang:
Two arrangements of the selected musical scores will allow piano students of all skill levels to participate in the event. Instructors are encouraged to recommend students as duets, or individual students who will be paired with a partner. The students will perform together piano 4-hand on 50 Roland keyboards along with Lang Lang at the center of the ensemble on a Steinway Concert Grand piano.
Step 1: Piano teachers submit names of recommended students and required registration information via this EventBrite link. Each teacher will receive an email confirmation from Eventbrite for each student nomination, followed by an email communication from Tri-C’s Creative Arts Academy to teachers and each student/family with instructions for the required audition video.
Step 2: Each nominated student must submit a short, 3-5 minute video that best represents the student’s keyboard proficiency. Students are encouraged to play one of the selected works for the event, or another current repertoire selection the student is preparing. All videos must be submited by December 15, 2023.
Step 3: The roster of selected piano students will be announced on Friday, January 5, 2024. All selected students will be required to sign a Participation Agreement that will include the videotaping of the rehearsals and performance for a documentary to be presented after the event.
Step 4: Selected students will then prepare the repertoire and will be required to atend group rehearsals at Tri-C in advance of the April 29th master class and performance on the following dates:
Sunday, April 13, 3:00-5:00pm | Sunday, April 21, 3:00-5:00pm | Sunday, April 28, 3:00-5:00pm
Tri-C’s Creative Arts Academy is honored to host Lang Lang and to share his musical passion and commitment to music education with piano students and instructors from across Northeast Ohio. If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call (216)987-6145.
We look forward to this exciting collaboration!
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