Shicong L

Shicong L was born in Shenyang, China in 1989, and began studying piano at the age of four. He was introduced to music by his mother, who also played piano and had a deep love for music. Shicong’s piano teachers in China include Hong Jiang, Quming Zhang, and Dan Wen Wei, who was the last student of Vladimir Horowitz. During his middle and high school years, Shicong participated and won prizes in some famous competitions including third prize in the Osaka International Music Competition, semi-finals in the Chopin International Youth Competition, and third prize in the Kawaii Competition, which took place in China. In 2009, Shicong moved to Boston and earned his Bachelor degree at New England Conservatory with Russian virtuoso pianist Alexander Korsantia. During those four years, Shicong achieved many high honors in the school, such as winning the piano department’s honors competition and performing Schumann Kreisleriana on Jordan Hall. He also was a finalist in the school’s concerto competition in 2012 and advanced to the semi-finals of the Ferrol Competition in Spain in 2011. Now, Shicong is a first-year Master’s student in the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with the renowned pianist Hae-Sun Paik. Within his first six months at the school, he won the concerto competition and will perform Scriabin Piano Concerto in Severance Hall with the CIM orchestra in spring of 2014. He has also participated in masterclasses with Lera Auerbach, Jerome Lowenthal, Dang Thai Son, and others. Shicong is actively involved in chamber music at CIM, and in addition to a piano trio, often enjoys collaborating with string players and singers as their accompanist. Shicong specializes in Russian repertoire, and he is especially passionate about the works of Rachmaninoff and Scriabin. In his spare time, he likes to learn conducting, to watch sports, and to spend time with his friends and family. His favorite symphonic work is Rachmaninoff symphony no.2.