Lang Lang is a globally celebrated concert pianist known for his technical brilliance, expressive performances and role in bringing classical music to wider audiences. Born in Shenyang, China, in 1982, he showed extraordinary musical talent at a young age and began studying piano when he was just 3 years old. At age 9, he was accepted into the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he continued to develop his skills as a young prodigy. As a teenager, he moved to the United States to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. His international breakthrough came in 1999 when, at just 17, he stepped in on short notice to perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival. Performing a piano concerto by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, he impressed audiences and critics with his confidence and virtuosity. The dramatic performance instantly launched him onto the world stage. After this success, orchestras and concert halls around the world began inviting him to perform.