Vanessa in China

Monday 12 January 2015

Professor Vanessa Latarche, Head of Keyboard at the RCM, has participated in the first Lang Lang Shenzhen Futian International Piano Festival in Shenzhen, China.

This is the first festival that bears Lang Lang's name and Vanessa is one of eight well-known pianists and educators that have been invited to take part by the world-famous pianist.

Vanessa has given a number of recitals, lectures and masterclasses as part of the festival, including a performance of two-piano works by Rachmaninov and Arensky with RCM alumna Meng Yang Pan (pictured), as well as Liszt's famous Hungarian Rhapsody transcribed for eight hands with teachers from Lang Lang Music World. She is also on the jury of the piano competition, which has seen entries from more than 200 young pianists around the world.

The Royal College of Music already enjoys a close relationship with Lang Lang, with Vanessa having been appointed Vice Chairman of Lang Lang Music World (his school for gifted pianists) in 2013. Lang Lang has also visited the RCM in recent years for three immensely popular masterclasses, and received an Honorary Doctorate in 2011.