Gulf Coast Symphony presents Tchaikovsky

Yuebing Lin The Gulf Coast Symphony, Southwest Florida's premier community orchestra, presents the first of its acclaimed Classical Access Concerts on Saturday, Dec. 13. The concert features 18-year-old Chinese pianist Brian Lin, winner of the 2007 Virginia Warring International Piano Competition. He will perform Tchaikovsky's much-loved first piano concerto. The Gulf Coast Symphony will also perform Shostakovich's "10th Symphony," considered his masterpiece.

The concert takes place in the Anderson Theater at Bishop Verot High School at 7:30 p.m. Single tickets are $10 and $20, with free tickets for children under 18. Tickets are available online at www. gulfcoastsymphony.org, by calling 481- 4849, or in person at the Anderson Hall box office one hour prior to the concert.

Mr. Lin will also perform a solo recital on Sunday, Dec. 14, in the Alliance of the Art's intimate Foulds Theater. Tickets are $5 and $10; children and students are admitted free.

Yuebing "Brian" Lin, 18, was born in Wuhan, China, and began playing the piano at the age of 4. He went to Shenzhen Arts School at the age of 10 and has studied with renowned teachers Dan Zhaoyi and Eleanor Wong. He also performed in master classes with Yoheved Kaplinsky and Barry Douglas, among others. Last year he received a full scholarship to attend Texas Christian University, where he currently studies with Dr. Tamas Ungar. Mr. Lin has received numerous awards from some of the top competitions in China, including second place at the First National Art Academy of China, second place and "best performance of Chinese works award" at the 10th Xing- Hai Cup National Piano Competition of China. In March 2007, he won first place in the Intermediate Concerto Competition at the 2007 Virginia Waring International Competition.

If you go

>>What: Gulf Coast Symphony presents Tchaikovsky

>>When: Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m.

>>Where: Anderson Hall, on the campus of Bishop Verot High School, 5598 Sunrise Dr.

>>Cost: $10 and $20

>>Info: Call 481-4849 or go to www.gulfcoastsymphony. org