Jan Lisiecki in Saskatoon 2010 October 15

Jan Lisiecki played a Chopin/Bach recital at 3rd Ave United Church today.  I only went to this sold out recital because an Aden Bowman colleague gave me a ticket.  He's quite talented for a 15 year old for sure.  It says in the programme he graduates from high school in January 2011 (before his 16th birthday).  I noticed for the more technical stuff (Etudes Op 25), he's good, but not at the level of a professional (eg Pollini).  He forgot to play Op 25 #11, so he played that after the break -  he's still a kid.  He ended with the Black Keys étude as an encore.  I wonder if he'll go study with someone who will bring him to the next level?  Pinchas Zukerman, Boris Brott and Howard Shelley are listed as his mentors.  It's a big world out there and once the novelty of youth wears off, sometimes these 'stars' lose their shine (eg Dimitris Sgouros).  He has academic interests as well, so it will be interesting to see if he goes to university and studies something to pay the bills or if he tries to work towards being a concert pianist.  Thomas Yu comes to mind as a talented pianist who, I suspect, can nurture his piano 'hobby' with his day job as a dentist.