Accordionist Tian Jianan to Perform at the University of Utah

UtahPresents invites you to start off your Chinese New Year celebration with the award-winning young musical prodigy, Chinese accordionist Tian Jianan. This free performance will reveal the accordion's complexity and grace, moving it beyond the traditions of the polka hall. Tian Jianan will perform at Libby Gardner Concert Hall on Tuesday, February 2 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are free but required and are available at 801-581-7100 or utahpresents.org.

Tian Jianan, a 21-year-old virtuoso from Beijing, plays the bayan, a special chromatic-button keyboard accordion developed in Russia, and the international instrument of choice for accordionists performing classical or contemporary classical music. Using a free bass accordion allows for full two-handed counterpoint instead of melodies played with the right hand against predetermined push-button chords in the left. Under Tian's hands, the bayan is transformed into a structurally complex, robustly symphonic, and emotionally engrossing instrument of astonishing possibilities. Still a student at the Central Conservatory of Music, China's leading music school, Tian has nonetheless accumulated no fewer than 31 first-place finishes worldwide at competitions in Italy, Germany, Russia, New Zealand, and Canada. At the 2013 Coupe Mondiale, a premier international accordion competition, Tian took the top prize for Best Original Solo Work.

This evening will be a rare opportunity to capture a rising star and challenge your expectations about the expressiveness of an instrument you only thought you knew.

About UtahPresents
For the curious who want to experience artistic creativity pushed beyond the stage, UtahPresents ignites dialogue, explores issues and ideas, catalyzes innovation, and connects us. Creativity Connected. View the full season at utahpresents.org.