Appointment to take place at New York concert celebrating launch of pianist's new foundation

GRAMMY.com

The Recording Academy will name GRAMMY-nominated Chinese pianist Lang Lang as its GRAMMY Cultural Ambassador to China at a free concert performance at Town Hall in New York City on Oct. 20.

The appointment is designed to combine Lang Lang's cultural influence and the stature and recognition of the GRAMMY Awards and The Recording Academy to promote music education and cultural understanding between the United States and China.

The concert event, presented by the GRAMMY Foundation and sponsored by the Starkey Hearing Foundation, will also celebrate the official launch of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, an organization created to enrich the lives of children through a deeper understanding and enjoyment of classical music and to inspire and financially support the next generation of musicians through targeted outreach and educational programs.

"Comprising 20 percent of the world's population, China is a vitally important country to our collective musical cultures and the arts," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and President of the GRAMMY Foundation. "So it is only fitting that The Recording Academy develop a more significant role and relationship with China, and there is no finer musician or spokesperson to join us in that effort than Lang Lang. We look forward to the many collaborations and projects that will come from this partnership."

"I believe that my career became possible only because of the opportunities I had as a child to audition for very distinguished musicians," said Lang Lang, who began playing piano at age 3 and won several prestigious prizes before the age of 13. "I also received incredible support from my mentors, which allowed my talent to flourish. I have created the [Lang Lang] International Music Foundation as a way to pass on the precious gift of opportunity to the next generation of musicians and audiences."

"Starkey Hearing Foundation is pleased to support the combined efforts of Lang Lang and The Recording Academy in making this free concert for children and students a reality," said Debbie Wright, executive director of Starkey Hearing Foundation. "As we continue our quest to change the social consciousness of hearing and begin to broaden our partnerships globally, we are proud to support an internationally acclaimed artist such as Lang Lang. Our message of hearing health perfectly complements Lang Lang's [and] The Recording Academy's [mission] of providing music education opportunities for young people."

The Oct. 20 concert will be attended by a cross section of New York City elementary and high school students. The students have been invited through educational outreach programs fostered by Lang Lang, his foundation, and The Recording Academy as a way to reach kids who have had little or no exposure to classical music. The program will also feature performances by two talented children between the ages of 5 and 8, each of whom will be presented with a scholarship from Lang Lang's International Music Foundation that will go toward their music studies.

Declared the "hottest artist on the classical music planet" by The New York Times, Lang Lang has captivated audiences around the globe with his virtuosic talent and extraordinary ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level. He has played sold-out recitals and concerts in every major city in the world and is the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and top American orchestras.

In 2004 Lang Lang was appointed International Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Children's Fund and has worked steadily to raise awareness and funds on its behalf ever since. Earlier this year, he raised $3.4 million in aid to the Red Cross for victims of the May earthquake in China's Sichuan Province by performing several concert events. Lang Lang continues to show his dedication to young people by visiting children's hospitals whenever he remains in one city for an extended period of time and he will make similar visits during upcoming stays in New York and San Francisco.

"Through music I want children to see a different dimension of life," said Lang Lang. "Music can help them achieve their dreams."