May 10, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact Jeffrey James Arts Consulting
516-797-9166 or [log in to unmask]

The Leschetizky Association of New York Presents Pianist Yuan Sheng at
Donnell Library Center - May 16 Leschetizky Birthday Concert Features
Works by Bach and Chopin

The Leschetizky Association of New York will present pianist Yuan Sheng
in a special concert celebrating the 174th birthday of Theodor Leschtizky
on Sunday, May 16, 2:30 PM at the Donnell Library Center, 20 West 53rd
Street in Manhattan.  Mr.  Sheng will present a program featuring music
by two of the great masters of keyboard composition, Bach and Chopin.

Yuan Sheng has gained international recognition as a concert pianist
through his extensive performances throughout the United States, Canada,
China, Cuba, Finland, France, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Poland, and
Spain.  He is a laureate of Marsala, Erice, Jaen, Beijing and Havana
international piano competitions.  His participation in the Chopin
Competition in Warsaw won him praise and comparisons with the great
Polish pianist Ignaz Friedman, resulting in invitations by the Chopin
Society to give recitals at the Salle Cortot in Paris and in Morocco.
The renowned American pianist Andre Watts, upon hearing Yuan Sheng perform
Liszt, compared his playing with that of Josef Hofmann.  You can find
more information about him at http://www.leschetizky.org/Sheng.htm.

The May 16 concert is free and open to the public.  For directions or
other information, please call Donnell Library Center at (212) 621-0618.
You can also visit them online at http://www.nypl.org/branch/central/dlc/

The Leschetizky Association of New York was founded in 1942 by Edith
Golde and other pupils of the legendary Polish pianist, composer and
pedagogue Theodor Leschetizky to promote the memory of his teaching and
composing.  Now in it's 61st year, the association presents concerts and
informal playing groups for pianists of all ages and levels in venues
ranging from private studios to piano showrooms to concert halls throughout
the metropolitan area.  Thanks to the generous bequest of a Steinway
piano from the estate of Hilde Wittgenstein, widow of Paul Wittgenstein,
who was a founding member of the association, the association has
inaugurated a concert series in the gallery of the Tenri Cultural
Institute.  This series features concert artist members in recital
and special events of the association.

In the mid 1970s the name was changed to the Leschetizky Association to
reflect the international character of the membership and the Leschetizky
Association Debut Fund was incorporated as a tax-exempt fund to support
the debut competition.  In 2003 the organization presented its first
Gifted Young Pianists Competition to answer the need to recognize emerging
young talents and give them an opportunity to play with orchestra.
Leschetizky continues to assert a seminal influence on the modern concert
stage through the musical descendants of his many students and the
association is dedicated to furthering the high standard of piano playing
and teaching he epitomized.  Visit them online at http://www.leschetizky.org/

For more information about the Leschetizky Association of New York,
please contact Jeffrey James Arts Consulting at 516-797-9166 or
[log in to unmask]

Jeffrey James Arts Consulting
Website: http://www.jamesarts.com