ZHANG HAOCHEN once told his mother he would devote his life to music and piano education rather than to lots of commercial shows that can bring in big money.
The former student of Professor Dan Zhaoyi at the Shenzhen Art School has taken a break from his study at the Curtis Institute of Music in the United States to do a charity concert Friday night in town to help quake victims in Sichuan. The show is expected to raise more than 200,000 yuan (US$28,600), said Wang Lei, general manager of the Shenzhen Concert Hall, organizer of the event.
He will play the concert for free, and pay for his own air-fare from Philadelphia and back.
“I received news of the quake the second day (after it struck), and immediately checked for information online. I couldn’t stop my tears when I saw photos of the victims,” the 17-year-old said in an interview Tuesday.
He then asked for support from his teacher Gary Graffman, also Lang Lang’s teacher, and the Shenzhen Concert Hall.
“They instantly agreed to my proposal to do the concert for free,” Zhang said.
“I have nothing to contribute but my music. The concert hall will contribute the venue and its staff.”
The youngest first-prize winner for piano at the 4th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Xiamen at the age of 11, the Shanghai native revealed he would play several Chinese musical pieces, most probably related to Sichuan, in addition to the scheduled program. “This is to thank the audience, for buying tickets to my concert, and the money will help the quake victims.”
Zhang left Shenzhen to study in the United States at 14.