〖Shenzhen Daily〗Lang plays piano with 100 kids

 

Lang Lang at yesterday’s concert.

 

Lang Lang plays the piano with 100 children at Children’s Palace yesterday. Photos by Sun Yuchen

 

SHENZHEN’S international goodwill ambassador, globally known pianist Lang Lang, played the piano with 100 children at Children’s Palace yesterday.

 

The event had a theme of “Open Your Musical Dream.” Guided by Lang, the 100 children sat two to each piano and played “Military March,” one of Franz Schubert’s most famous melodies.

 

Each of the children tried their best to follow Lang’s tempo and move their fingers quickly across the keys.

 

“I started learning piano at the age of 4. My musical dream is to become a pianist as successful as Lang Lang,” Li Zhongxin, a 10-year-old boy, told Shenzhen Daily yesterday.

 

Li said he practices the piano for about three hours a day during the week.

 

“I practice for four to six hours a day during holidays,” he added.

 

Many children at the event had dreams similar to Li’s.

 

“I chose to study piano because I like it. I can practice for four hours a day,” said Zhu Yifan, an 11-year-old girl.

 

Zhu is a student at Shenzhen Nanshan Bilingual School and has been taking piano lessons at Lang Lang Music World in Futian District.

 

“I feel happy when I’m playing the piano,” she said.

 

The event was organized by Lang Lang International Music Foundation and Lang Lang Music World.

 

“It’s the first time for me to have such an event, which was aimed at connecting with children playing the piano and inspiring them to pursue their musical dreams,” Lang said. “I hope we can have more such events in more Chinese cities.”

 

The 100 children who played at yesterday’s event were chosen from 300 applicants.

 

Lang, a U.N. Messenger of Peace focusing on global education, said that he plans to visit several countries with U.N. officials next year to promote the importance of education.

 

“I also hope to help build more schools and open music courses in poverty-stricken areas in China,” he said. “It’s more meaningful to convey education ideas as a cultural messenger than to hold a concert.”

 

Lang has been a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Children’s Fund for 10 years, working to raise awareness of children’s rights and improve access to quality health care and education.

 

When asked about his plan to open a music school in Shenzhen, Lang said his team has been visiting renowned music schools across the world to learn from their experiences.

 

“The key to Shenzhen’s drive to become an international metropolis is absorbing more talents, which is also an important factor in deciding whether my music school can become a reality,” Lang said.

 

Lang was named Shenzhen’s international ambassador in January 2012 and has since cooperated with the city’s foreign affairs office to introduce Shenzhen to the world in a series of events in foreign cities, including Barcelona.