In addition to raw talent, this piano prodigy's success depends on a college education

By: Kevin Kuzma, Editor

His hair, braided into a dozen or so tight dreadlocks, stands out against the tuxedo-clad backdrop of a full orchestra. But when the music begins, the differences between Jerry Lang and everyone else on stage have as little to do with appearances as they do the music.

On the first cue, Lang throws himself at the piano, his dreds going with him, emphasizing the feeling behind the notes. The rest of his body huddles over the keys, the very picture of complete concentration. From the audience's perspective, his head appears as if it is afloat on a wave of shoulders that rise and fall with the music's tempo.

It's during the opening moments of his concerts that crowds and critics alike realize Lang doesn't just play piano; he embodies it. At times during his performances, it can be hard to tell where Lang ends and the music begins. In the often stiff and stodgy realm of concert halls, dress up clothes and polite applause, the 17 year-old piano prodigy energizes crowds, taking them along for an evening of cascading notes and fluctuating emotions.

To reach his full potential as a performer, the teen from Brunswick, Ohio, will have to rely on more than raw talent. Lang is the first trained musician in his family. But he also will become the first family member to pursue a college degree. For him, a degree will open up a path to further his musical education and perhaps tour the world making a career as a concert pianist.

Music will always be the main attraction of Lang's performances. His trademark, though, is his whimsical body movements and song interpretations. Trained as a classical musician, Lang has been lauded as an exceptional "pop" musician. His renditions of songs familiar to the ear, like Broadway hits and film scores, are as impressive as his unique playing style.

"Everything about this kid is extraordinary," said Gordon Petitt, Marketing Director for the Cleveland Pops in Cleveland, Ohio. "He's watchable. He's very conscious of how he appears. Most young musicians aren't aware of how they look on stage."

Petitt awarded Lang with the 7th annual Jean L. Petitt Memorial Music Scholarship after his performance at Severance Hall in November 2005. The newcomer shared the stage that night with a well-known performer, Craig Shulman. But according to a review by Wilma Salisbury, a local music writer, "the veteran Broadway singer did not shine until the end of the program. In the meantime, a teenage wonder . dazzled the crowd."

Audiences adore Lang's shows. It doesn't hurt that many of the seats - at least for local performances - are filled with his friends and family. Lang performed before three generations of his family at the Cleveland Pops show, with his parents, grandmother and great-grandmother seated up front.

"The family takes pride in his performance," said Ella Karasick, Lang's current instructor and mentor. "He has a special presence - a gift that doesn't let him quit."

A natural gift

History's greatest musicians do not ordinarily find inspiration from Taco Bell commercials. Granted, television didn't exist in the 17th century to influence artists like Mozart and Beethoven, but the familiar TV jingle for the fast food restaurant stood out to the toddler standing in a living filled with background noise.

"He stopped dead in his tracks every time it came on," said Tonya, Lang's mother, "so my husband and I bought him a Fisher Price Little Tykes piano."

Made of red, blue and yellow plastic, the toy piano is the furthest thing from the two-thousand pound variations Lang plays today. Still, his parents could tell from his playing with the toy that there was a connection. "He just loved the sound," Tonya said.

At age four, Lang was taking music lessons and had already won a piano recital. A year later, Lang was studying under Kim McMasters at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory in Berea, Ohio. McMasters taught him the Suzuki method of piano, which instructs children how to play by ear rather than reading music.

"Piano was the easiest instrument to grasp," Jerry said. "I couldn't hold onto a violin without dropping it. Since it's hard to drop a piano, I chose it. It's a little more straightforward to play."

Making history

By age seven, Lang had declared his lifetime ambition to become a concert pianist and to perform at Carnegie Hall. He achieved his goal in 2002 when he placed first in The World Piano Competition. At this event, Lang made history. He became the first and only young artist in 46 years to open for the Artist Competition and Gala.

His recent performance at the Cleveland Pops festival earned him a spot on tour with the Red Orchestra. It's considered an honor within the world of music to be invited to play with the Red Orchestra. The group of professional musicians that tours America limit their invitations for guest artists to only brightest young stars.

Lang, who has been home-schooled throughout his academic career, wants to see more of the world and sees an education as the route to do so. He has yet to commit to a college. Despite his talent, he said a successful career as a musician requires a solid education.

"College is a definite must," Jerry said. "There are a lot of conservatories and colleges I am still looking at. It's a completely different environment and I'm excited to learn from another teacher. I'm ready to basically live as a musician, to be on my own."

A career as a musician will allow Lang to do what he enjoys most: play in front of large audiences, which he said fuels his awareness and artistic energy. For his family, though, watching their son perform brings out a range of emotions.

"It's very exciting, scary and fun all at the same time," Tonya said. "When I hear what people say about how he moves them, I know this is what he is supposed to do in life."