Claire Huangci Recital - 17-year-old prodigy September 19, 2007

Acclaimed teenage pianist Claire Huangci will perform a premiere recital at Yamaha's midtown Piano Salon on Wednesday, September 19. The program will include such works as:

Bach/Busoni: Chaconne in D minor BWV1004
Shubert: Piano Sonata in A major D959
Chopin: Sonata No. 3 in B minor Op. 58
Strauss/Schulz/Evler: Arabesques on themes of "Beautiful Blue Danube"

A native of New York, 17-year-old Claire Huangci began her piano studies at the age of seven when she was enrolled into the Settlement Music School of Philadelphia. Within her first year of school she was featured on Fox News as a child prodigy with "the skills of a professional pianist." In 2003 she was admitted into the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied under Eleanor Sokoloff and Gary Graffman. During her schooling, Huangci was awarded a number of scholarships and won many competitions, including the Grand Prize at the 1999 World Piano Competition in the young artist division, the Philadelphia Orchestra Competition and the 57th Kosciuszko Chopin National Piano Competition. Her performances have been featured on many music radio stations, including a performance of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 on New York's WQXR. In 2006 she became Yamaha's Youngest Artist endorsee.

In 2007 Huangci made her first appearances in Europe with solo performances in Munich and Frankfurt, Germany; Zurich, Switzerland; and Paris, France. She also performed with National du Maroc Philharmonic at the Morocco Festival and debuted with the China Philharmonic in Beijing. Having now completed four years of study at the Curtis Institute of Music, she plans to continue her education in Germany at the Hochschule für Musik in Hannover under professor Arie Vardi.

Tickets: $15 general; $10 seniors; $6 students

For reservations and complete recital program, contact (212) 339-9995, x 0 or yasi@yamaha.com

Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/yamahaartistservices