18-year-old classical pianist Jan Lisiecki has performed internationally throughout Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Korea, Poland and Scotland. A National Youth Representative for UNICEF Canada, Jan is studying for his Bachelor of Music at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto.

1. What are we interrupting (i.e. what music-related activity are we taking you away from to write this)?

Well, in fact you are not interrupting my practice, but helping me kill time in LHR! Although, on second thought, I could practise here too, since now there are some upright pianos here!

https://twitter.com/janlisiecki/status/291871364766396418

2. What, if anything, are you most looking forward to as an audience member between now and September 7?

Plays at Stratford Shakespeare Festival! I will be performing three concerts in Stratford in August, and I will also be seeing four plays, for which I'm very excited!

3. How about as a music maker/player?

My BBC Proms debut, with one of my favourite conductors, orchestras and concertos. I will be performing Schumann's piano concerto with maestro Antonio Pappano and Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

4. What are you already preparing for musically beyond the summer? And (how) do your summer plans tie in with these longer term plans?

I will be playing the Grieg concerto for the first time this summer, at the Orford Festival. I will then be performing it in the 2013/14 concert season, in Winnipeg, Montreal, and on tour with the Trondheim Orchestra, amongst others.

TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/janlisiecki