MPCS celebrates Valentine's Day with Van Cliburn Competition gold medalist

(Editor's note: The Master Players Concert Series Gold Medalist's Show and pre-show dinner, both of which are sold out, will be held as scheduled.)

1:56 p.m., Feb. 7, 2014--The University of Delaware Master Players Concert Series will present Haochen Zhang, gold medalist of the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, in a Gold Medalist’s Show concert at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, in the Gore Recital Hall of the Roselle Center for the Arts.

The Gold Medalist’s Show, which celebrates top prizewinners of international music competitions, is another innovative concert presentation being launched by MPCS.

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Many Americans remember the legendary American pianist Van Cliburn, who won the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition held in Moscow during the Cold War. Since then, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition has become one of the most important piano competitions in the world. Zhang, a native of Shanghai, China, was the gold medalist at the competition held in 2009. 

Almost exactly one year after Van Cliburn passed away in Fort Worth, Texas, in February 2013, Zhang will give the inaugural performance of this new event partially in memory of the legendary Van Cliburn and to help the MPCS audience celebrate Valentine’s Day with his personal interpretation of romantic solo piano music by Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms and Oscar-winning Chinese composer Tan Dun.

After a romantic MPCS prelude dinner, guests are invited to bring their valentines to the concert to enjoy one of today’s most promising pianists. 

The state-of-the-art Gore Recital Hall seats just 200 and those interested in attending are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. To order advance tickets, call 302-831-2204. Tickets for all events are $25 for adults, $20 for UD faculty, staff, alumni and seniors, and $10 for students with ID.