Playing for 101 pianists

"It was the chance of a lifetime for 100 students from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) School of Music” who performed with 32-year-old Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang at the Orpheum Theatre on March 17, 2015. Doubling up on 50 pianos to play Schubert’s Marche Militaire and Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5, the "hand-picked” students included seven-year-old twins Phil and Karl as also their father Zubin Daruwala.

Aimy and Zubin Daruwala with twins Phil and Karl

101 pianists’ recital

The 2,780 seater Vancouver Orpheum Theatre "was practically sold out” for the "101 Pianists” event. The public performance also served as an open masterclass when Lang, rated among the world’s best pianists, played alongside the students and "shared insights on the works and his experiences in the world of music,” conveyed the VSO website. On his tour across North America Lang spent time with music students as part of his work through the Lang Lang International Music Foundation which promotes music education around the world.
Although the twins have previously performed for some school music concerts as also for family and friends, playing solo, together in duets and along with their father in six-hand arrangements on one piano, the "101 Pianists” event was their first public performance, conveyed their mother Aimy. "The twins have been studying the piano since they were four and are usually, though not always, willing participants in their daily practice,” she mentioned in her response to Parsiana’s queries.