Doc Lang

Today, the 28-year-old international piano megastar Lang Lang received the Honorary Doctorate Degree from The Royal College of Music in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a performer and a philanthropist supporting the next generation of musicians, on the occasion of HRH the Prince of Wales’ annual visit to the RCM. Lang Lang is the youngest and the first Chinese individual to be distinguished with this high honor.

The ceremony took place at the Britten Theatre of the Royal College of Music in London, followed by a brief concert at the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall. As HRH the Prince of Wales arrived at RCM, the stage curtain rose and the brass fanfare welcomed the Royal party onto the stage. Lord Winston, the Chairman of the College, read the citation for Lang Lang, whereupon HRH Prince Charles conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Music and presented him with the scroll. Composer James MacMillan and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen received their Honorary Doctorate Degrees alongside Lang Lang.

RCM’s decision to award the degree to Lang Lang celebrates the 40 million Chinese children inspired to learn classical piano. As one of the world’s most renowned pianists, whose performance at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics brought him to the attention of five billion people worldwide; Lang Lang is viewed as a symbol of China’s future. In 2004, Lang Lang was appointed International Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Children’s Fund. Four years later he launched the Lang Lang International Music Foundation to nurture young talent, introduce underserved communities to classical music, and cultivate the audiences of tomorrow.