Profile

TAN Xiaotang

TAN Xiaotang was born in Beijing, China in 1979. He started piano at five and was placed first at the Chinese Hope Cup Piano Competition at the age of twelve. Having scored the highest of all applicants, he entered the piano department of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China in 1998. There he studied under Professor Yang Jun who himself is a famous pianist and teacher. TAN Xiaotang was awarded a number of scholarships while studying at the Central Conservatory of Music and was also highly regarded in numerous piano competitions and concerts. After graduating at the top of the class in 2002, TAN Xiaotang went on to graduate school at the Central Conservatory of Music by special recommendation. In the same year, he won 1st place in the Golden Bell Award Piano Competition, one of the most prestigious competitions in China. In 2003, he enrolled in Hochschule des Saarlandes für Musik und Theater in Germany to pursue his dream to become a successful pianist and has been studying under Professor Thomas Duis since then. He has also had the good fortune of being tutored by Mr. Ugorski and Mr. Fou Tsong, both of whom are prominent pianists. He has had a busy schedule, performing with various orchestras both in China and in various other countries, specifically in France, Germany and Poland. He is highly appraised for his outstanding techniques and his magnificent expressive performances by critics and audiences alike. Most recently, he won first place in the piano section at the 2nd Sendai International Music Competition held in June, 2004.