My first European
competition win

The first time I left China was for the Ettlingen Young Pianists’ Competition in Germany when I was 12. My recital included Chopin’s “Black Key Etude” which I’d been playing since I was 7 years old. Without my parents taking out a big loan to pay for the trip, my career might have ended here. So we were overjoyed when the judges announced I had won!

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Tchaikovsky Competition
win launches my career

The 1995 Tchaikovsky International Young Musicians Competition - held in Sendai, Japan - was the biggest competition of its kind at the time. You can see on the video that my eyes are glued to the conductor. That’s because this was my first opportunity ever to perform with an orchestra!

Although I’d been advised to choose a different work for this big competition, I stuck to my first choice of Chopin’s 2^nd piano concerto. And it paid off.

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Beijing recitals pave
my way to the US

After the success of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Sendai Japan my professional career really took off, especially in Asia. I gave 2 important recitals in the Beijing Concert Hall with Chopin’s music when I was 13 and 14 years old – in the latter I performed Chopin’s complete set of 24 Etudes. Not bad for someone so young! When Gary Graffmann saw these videos he said it was now time to leave China and come to the US for further study at the Curtis Institute.

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Chopin’s 200^th
anniversary year

2010 was a big year for Chopin and for me. I launched Chopin’s 200-year anniversary celebrations in his homeland Poland, I made my first recording in Vienna’s legendary Golden Hall and featured in my first ever 3D films. Naturally the music of Chopin featured in all of them.

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The Chopin Album

As you can see the music of Chopin has played an important role in my career. As I turned 30 this year I recorded my first album of solo piano works from the master composer. The album includes the set of Etudes Op. 25, the “Minute Waltz” and some of his most beautiful Nocturnes.

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Scroll down to listen to excerpts of the album

the chopin album

Listen to excerpts from my new album

30th Birthday Concert

I celebrated my 30th birthday this year with a special concert at Berlin’s O2 World. I was joined by legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and 50 young competition winners from around the globe. It was really something to have the children performing on stage with us - on 25 Grand pianos!

Google Talks
Presentation

Live Stream on YouTube October 15 (11am New York time). Google Talks have invited me to present my new recording “The Chopin Album” .