| Lang Lang was born on June 14, 1982 in Shenyang, | | | | Conservatory of Music, Lang Lang did very well. He |
| China. He reportedly became drawn to the piano while | | | | won first prize in the Tchaikovsky International Young |
| watching a Tom and Jerry cartoon where Tom, who | | | | Music Competition at the age of thirteen. |
| is an animated cat, plays a tune by Liszt, which is a | | | | When Lang Lang was seventeen, he was called in as |
| Hungarian Rhapsody. It is said that Lang Lang was so | | | | a last minute substitute to play in the "Gala of the |
| impressed by Tom's pounding of the keys, as well as | | | | Century" with the Chicago Symphony. This was his |
| the feline's speed in playing the piece, that he became | | | | break into becoming recognized and eventually |
| motivated to learn the piano. His goal was to play the | | | | evolving into the superstar status which he has now. |
| Hungarian Rhapsody as well and as fiercely as Tom. | | | | He was a huge hit at the gala and soon began |
| This "ah ha moment" occurred while Lang Lang was a | | | | performing sold out concerts around the world. |
| child of a mere three years old. He has achieved that | | | | He has appeared on television many times, including 60 |
| piano playing goal and more. | | | | Minutes, CBS Early Show, Good Morning America, the |
| At the age of three years old, he began to study the | | | | Tonight Show, the Oprah Show and The Today |
| piano under the guidance of his professor Zhu Ya-Fen. | | | | Show. He also has a strong presence on which has |
| At the age of five he won the Shenyang Piano | | | | drawn in a younger crowd. He is quite adept at |
| Competition for a recital that he performed. But all was | | | | drawing younger audiences to the allure of classical |
| not rosy in the beginning. As he was preparing for | | | | music. |
| admittance into the prestigious Beijing Conservatory of | | | | He has also performed for international dignitaries |
| Music at the age of nine, he ran into a snag with his | | | | including presidents, prime ministers, princes, queens |
| tutor. The tutor ousted him from lessons for a | | | | and generals. He was appointed to be International |
| supposed lack of talent. One would wonder where | | | | Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Children's |
| that tutor is today and what he or she might be | | | | Fund in 2004. |
| thinking in hindsight. Upon entering the Beijing | | | | |