Saturday demonstration features 'video game pianist'

July 11, 2014

University Relations

Kirsten Pickard
907-474-2417
7/11/14

Martin Leung, the "video game pianist," will perform again in person during the final free community event of the Alaska International Piano-e-Competition at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Saturday, July 12 at noon in the Davis Concert Hall. Leung will demonstrate the cutting edge technology in the Yamaha Disklavier, a premier acoustic piano that can transmit and receive performances over the Internet.

The Disklavier in Fairbanks will be directly connected to a Disklavier in the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada, allowing audiences in both halls to enjoy performances in real time across thousands of miles. This event is family-friendly, free and open to the public.

Leung, a competitor in the e-Competition and highly demanded performer at video game and comics conventions around the world, gave a community clinic earlier this week for a room packed with piano students, teachers and video game aficionados of all ages.  His vast repertoire of video game music, transcribed by ear for his own arrangements, brought laughter, smiles and rousing applause from the audience, as did his classic performances of works by Beethoven, Ravel and more.

Leung's appearance Saturday will correspond with the Toronto Technology Demonstration, allowing the Fairbanks audience to watch him live in the Davis Concert Hall while Toronto audiences watch his performance recreated in real time on their Disklavier.

For more information, visit http://uaf.edu/piano/, or contact Linda Harriger at 907-474-7555.

KP/7-11-14/008-14