Albert Wong was born on January 1, 1990. He has resided in Carrollton, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), since September, 1990. Even though he could sing many entire songs before he could speak complete sentences, his musical interest was not revealed until he saw and heard the piano at age three-and-a-half. When he was four he enjoyed the instrument so much that he announced to everyone that he wanted to be a concert pianist. He won the grand prize of the North Texas Piano Competition at age five.

Today, at eleven, Albert is a seasoned performer. He gave his first solo recital at age six and made his orchestral debut at seven, playing Bach’s Concerto in F minor, shortly after he won first price in the Dallas Symphonic Piano Concerto Competition. 

Albert made his Carnegie Hall debut last year quite unexpectedly, thanks to his teacher Earl Wild. At the conclusion of Mr. Wild’s 85th birthday recital, Albert walked out with flowers for his teacher, who introduced Albert and asked the young ten-year-old prodigy to play. His first offering was “Happy Birthday.” Then, according to the New York Times review of December 5, 2000, he “gave an astonishing performance of the Hummel Rondo.” Albert doesn’t want to be just another concert pianist, he wants to be “the top one percent of great concert pianists.”

Upon hearing of his invitation to perform at the MPC, Albert wrote, “I am excited about this opportunity. It will be great!”

André-Michel Schub

Fred Child

From the moment André-Michel Schub made his recital debut at New York’s Alice Tully Hall in 1974, his career has exemplifed what might justly be called a distinguished integrity. A formidable pianist completely dedicated to music-making at the highest level, he performs with the world’s most prestigious orchestras—Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, the Royal Concertgebouw, and the New York Philharmonic, to name only a few which invite him repeatedly—and at the foremost music festivals, including Tanglewood, Ravinia, Blossom, and Wolf Trap. Since 1997 he has been Artistic Director of the Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival, toured nationally in annual duo-recitals with violinist Cho-Liang Lin, and appeared often on television. He won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1981. 

Last fall, National Public Radio announced the appointment of Fred Child as “Performance Today’s” long-awaited new weekday host. A former radio host and producer at New York’s WNYC, Fred Child brought an extensive knowledge of classical music to the program as well as a strong, real-world sense of that discipline’s significance in contemporary American culture. During his eight-year tenure at WNYC he also served as music director, host, and producer of the daily performance and interview program “Around New York,” and he has also served as morning drive-time host for Sony’s Classical SW Network. For ten years he was host, announcer, producer, and programmer for Oregon Public Broadcasting Radio in his home state. He enjoys playing the piano, guitar, and bagpipes in his spare time.

Originating as far back as the Middle Ages, the music of the klezmer tradition is enjoying a wider appreciation today than at any time during its history. Finjan, one of the leading lights in the klezmer revival, has played a key role in the music’s contemporary dissemination. Whether interpreting Yiddish theatre standards, playing a traditional “fraylech” (celebration), or creating new klezmer-influenced melodies, the band remains at the forefront of the movement, recognized for its fresh, original style and energetic and entertaining performances.

Now celebrating its eighteenth year as an active band, Finjan has toured throughout North America, making hundreds of appearances in concert halls, on television and radio, in film, and at major folk and jazz festivals. Among the group’s many career highlights are appearances on National Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion” and on “The Lonesome Pine Special,” heading San Francisco’s “Klezmer mania.”

They have recorded four group albums, and their performance profile at this year’s AMPPR Conference is in support of the recent CBC Records release entitled Klezmer Suite featuring the music of Canadian composer Sid Robinovitch.