Music maestro: Canadian pianist-composer Alain Lefevre. — Photo courtesy of Canadian Embassy

HCM CITY (VNS)— Canadian pianist-composer Alain Lefevre will perform at HCM City Opera House on May 13 and the Ha Noi Opera House on May 15.

The concerts are part of the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Viet Nam.

A Canadian Embassy press release notes that Lefevre was first introduced to piano when he was just four years old and one year later, he took his first lessons in Montreal, at the College Marguerite-Bourgeoys, soon revealing himself to be a young virtuoso.

He received his first major prize at the age of six. Many more awards and recognitions followed, including the Decoration of Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Pleiade awarded to him in 2007 by the Francophonie community for his outstanding contributions to art.

Internationally acclaimed as a "spectacular pianist", a "smashing performer", a "genial talent", and as "the 10 most agile fingers to have emerged from Quebec", Lefevre's sparkling career has included appearances as guest soloist with many of the world's top orchestras and performances in more than thirty countries.

When not on stage, Lefevre spends time composing. He also hosts a radio show broadcast every Sunday, on Radio-Canada's Espace Musique, featuring two hours of classical music.

For a third consecutive year, he will be the Artistic Ambassador of the Lanaudiere International Festival, the press release notes.

Extremely dedicated to bringing classical music to the young, he pursues his "cultural mission" by meeting thousands of students, from elementary to high school levels, every year from all over the world, when on tour or at home. — VNS