Arguably the best and the most active Chinese pianist on the international music scene, Kong Xiangdong is acclaimed by the media in the west as “an artist of truly electrifying gifts---the kind of musician who comes along only once or twice in a generation.” Kong has won numerous accolades, including the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow, the 1987 Santander International Competition in Spain, the Gold Award at the 1988 Gina Bachauer International Competition, and the First Prize as well as four other special merit awards at the 5th Sydney International Competition in 1992. Kong is dedicated to promoting the art of piano music in China. The Kong Xiang-Dong Music Organization was set up in August 2004 to spearhead a nationwide enterprise dedicated to music education and performing art.