Lang Lang at Wharton Center

A prodigy who made his Beijing Concert Hall debut at age 13, Lang Lang became an overnight sensation at age 17 when he stepped in on short notice to perform with the Chicago Symphony. Since that time, he has dazzled audiences with his stunning virtuosity and passion, playing sold-out recitals and concerts in every major city in the world. In 2009, he appeared on Time’s annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World, with an influence that has inspired over 40 million Chinese children to learn to play classical piano – a phenomenon termed by the TODAY show as “the Lang Lang effect,” which continues as strong as ever.