Renowned Pianist Lang Lang Donates $780,000 for Piano Education in Philadelphia Schools

The 35-year-old pianist, while speaking to an audience of second graders at Thomas Holme Elementary School, said Philadelphia has always been like a second home to him.

“I felt always very emotionally attached to the city of Philadelphia,” Lang Lang said, as reported by Daily News Philly.

The Lang Lang International Music Foundation donated pianos, workbooks, after school lessons as well as field trips related to music for three years to each of the six public schools in the state, giving a total of $780,000.

The six public schools include: Thomas Holme Elementary School, The Honorable Luis Munoz Marin Elementary, Francis Scott Key School, Fox Chase School, Southwark School and Edward T. Steel School.

Lang Lang, who was born in Shenyang, China in 1982, and later studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, also performed a duet piano with his 14-year-old protege, Maxim Lando, during his visit at Thomas Holme on Friday, where many of the students thought he was the best.

The elementary school will receive an annual check for $30,000 for three years to help build its after-school piano program.

Daniel Cheeseman, 7, a new piano player, asked Lang if he is the best pianist in the world. The 7-year-old boy said the pianist was nice and funny.

“I think he was great,” he said. “He is so cool.”

“Music and art inspire people the most. Of course, you need to have the other regular studies,” Lang said, according to CBS Philadelphia.

Featured Image via Instagram / langlangpiano