Premiere New York Recital of Celebrated Pianist Dong-Hyek Lim

NEW YORK (February 25, 2005) — Prior to his sold out debut concert at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater, acclaimed 20-year old South Korean Pianist Dong-Hyek Lim will perform an all-Chopin program in his premiere New York recital at Yamaha's performance space in midtown Manhattan.

Dong-Hyek Lim has been cited by audiences, critics and fellow musicians as one of the most talented young pianists in the world. Diapason Magazine has called Lim "The most deeply gifted young musician we have heard in a long time, full of maturity, commanding absolute authority, and at the same time with an elegance which one can only find amongst the chosen... an extraordinary talent."

Lim has played in concert halls, at festivals, and with orchestras throughout the world. A recipient of the Samsung Culture Scholarship and the Ezoe Scholarship, his 2002 debut CD on EMI received the DIAPASON D'OR Award. His second CD, released in 2004, was awarded the CHOC Prize by La Monde de la Musique.

Lim won second prize at the International Chopin Competition for Young Pianists in 1996. In 2000, he was Laureate of the International Busoni Piano Competition and winner of the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition. In 2001, he won the Premier Grand Prix at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Competition in Paris.

Yamaha invites you to a special performance by this celebrated young musician at his anticipated New York debut. Distinct in its mission of nurturing aspiring young talent, Yamaha Artist Services provides exceptional instruments and state-of-the-art performance and rehearsal facilities at no cost to aspiring pianists.

The event will take place on Friday, March 4, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $30 for adults and $20 for students with proper identification. Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. is located at 689 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan (entrance is on 54th Street). The performance will be held in the facility's third floor Piano Salon. For further information, or to reserve seats in advance, contact Makia Matsumura, Yamaha Artist Services, at 212-339-9995 ext. 227.