Kong Xiangdong is one of the most successful young pianists in the world .He loves the piano, he loves his homeland. Therefore, he became the best pianist of the Huanghe River Piano concerto.

　　The first time I became aware of the young pianist, Kong Xiangdong, was when I read the story of Kong Xiangdong and his teacher in a magazine. I was struck by the close attachment between them, like father and son. And, while I sympathetic toward his teacher Fan Dalei, a professor in the Shanghai Conservatory of Music who passed away young, I was also deeply impressed by Kong's talents and sincerity.

　　It was in Hong Kong that I first met Kong, just as we were entering l998. Invited by Ms. Wu Shuqing, chairperson of the executive committee for the History and Cultural Education Foundation for China's Youth and Children, the Successor of China organized asgroupsof youth from various places to Hong Kong for an exchange visit. "We'll be meeting Kong Xiangdong in a while," announced Ms. Wu one night. "He's the overseas ambassador for our foundation." Arriving in the cafe of the Wenhua Hotel, l greeted Kong, a gentleman-like fellow with a smile on his face all the time. After chatting about the History and Cultural Education Foundation for China's Youth and Children and our magazine, he explained that he made the trip to Hong Kong from the US specifically to produce his album, all the proceeds of which will go to the foundation. To produce the best recording effects, Kong personally look a hand in choosing all the music for it.

　　Kong Xiangdong was born in Shanghai in l968. He began studying piano at the age of five. In l978, he was admitted to the primary school attached to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and studied under his teacher, Fan Dalei. Later, he went to the United States to pursue advanced studies，first at Brigham Young University and then at the Curtis Institute of Music.He has visited over thirty countries and territories in North America, Europe，South Africa and Asia, and has cooperated with many acclaimed symphony orchestras and other music groups.With remarkable artistry，passion and talent，he represents the new generation of Chinese pianists.

　　Kong has won many prizes in international music including the International Moscow Piano Competition in 1986 and the International Paloma O-Shea Piano Competition in Spain in 1987. In 1988，he won first prize in the International Gina Bachauer Piano Competition in the US and in 1992, he won first prize and four other special prizes in the fifth International Sydney Piano Competition.In Hong Kong, the sales of his laser disc，Yellow River Piano Concerto have reached about 100,000 and have earned him a Platinum Record.In the US，he is the first Asian pianist to sign a contract with the BMG/RCA record company.

　　In the face of all these achievements，Kong never forgets his mother and his teacher，Fan Dalei.During our meeting he told me how fortunate he have had such a supportive mother and outstanding teacher."Mum likes music so much that I was raised to piano accompaniment," Kong recalled,“In 1974，I needed a piano.Mum gritted her teeth，borrowed from left and right，and managed to scrape together RMB800.This was an awful lot of money at that time，let alone the fact that Mum only had a temporary teaching post.To pay our debt，she worked nearly around the clock making clothes. She suffered a lot，”he explained sympathetically.

　　"Mum was strict with me and she even pushed mesintosplaying the piano.”

　　"Does she regretshavingsdone this？”

　　"Yes.Mum said she would not have pushed me to play if she had known I was so promising，”Kong smiled.“But if it weren't for her strictness，I wouldn't be successful today."

　　Currently, Kong's mother lives in Japan with his younger brother，who is studying at Tokyo University.

　　No matter how busy he is with his performances around the world，Kong will spend time seeing his mother. To Kong，these moments mean the most.

　　Chatting together，listening to music together and even living together，the teacher and the student

　　were just like father and son；with an unconventional way of teaching, his teacher's dream is realized by Kong.

　　With Kong and Lu Siqing，a violinist who lives in the US，I went to the Shanghai Conservatory of

　　Music to watch them make a video.Around the wall of the piano chamber were photos that record the history of the conservatory, including pictures of the previous prize-winning students and all the previous teachers. Staring at the photos for quite a while, Kong pointed to one and said, "This is my teacher, Mr. Fan." Then, he shifted his finger to another photo, "This is Mr. Fan's father. He died during the Culture Revolution." My heart sank. Two generations of talented musicians and teachers passed away young. " And, Mr. Fan has been gone for over five years, but it feels like it happened yesterday," he said quietly.

　　When Kong first studied piano as a child, he did not have a strong foundation. In fact, his grades ranked low among all the students admitted to the attached primary school of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Later, from the second year of his middle school, he began to study with Mr. Fan, who devoted all his attention to Kong's piano learning. Mr. Fan's way of teaching was unconventional. In his class, he mostly help his students to appreciate the connotation of music. During the winter and summer vacations, Kong and his teacher would chat together, listen to music together and even live together in Mr. Fan's dormitoryswheresthey played the piano more than ten hours per day. They became very close.

　　Soon, Kong's talents for music were developed.

　　"Did Mr. Fan place his hopes in you?"

　　"Yes. My teacher's generation missed their golden period during the Cultural Revolution. So, his dream is realized by me. "