What’s on

Shoac Citizens’ Concert When: Feb 16, 10 am Where: Shanghai Oriental Art Center

Thorsten Mauder, a concert organist and winner of numerous competitions and various scholarships, studied with Daniel Roth in Frankfurt, Halle and Paris. In addition to worldwide concerts and making several CDs, he is a regular lecturer in master classes in Germany and other countries.

Duan Aiai is an erhu solo artist with the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra and president of the erhu committee of the Shanghai Musicians’ Association. She began learning the twostringed fiddle at age 6. She has toured dozens of countries and regions, performing as a soloist with various orchestras.

She has been the erhu soloist and lead performer in musical scores for films, television drama series and modern dance productions.

Duan is noted for her delicate and expressive style, which exudes a natural charm that touches the hearts of her audience. Arod Quartet: Classic Reborn When: Feb 16, 7:15 pm Where: Shanghai Grand Theater

Though all four of its members are young — in their early 20s — the Arod Quartet, based in Paris, has dazzled chamber music lovers with concerts at such prestigious venues as the Auditorium of the Louvre in Paris and the Verbier Festival in Switzerland.

The quartet quickly came to international attention after winning first prize at the 2016 ARD International Music Competition in Munich, Germany, having already taken first prize at the Carl Nielsen Chamber Music Competition in Copenhagen, Denmark. Giovanni Marradi 2019 Piano Concert in Suzhou When: Feb 17, 7:30 pm Where: Suzhou Poly Grand Theater

Giovanni Marradi is a composer, pianist, recording artist, arranger, performer, inventor and cartoonist. He began learning piano at age 5 and studied composition and technique with Michael Cheskinoff at the Russian Conservatory.

He is one of the most successful expressionist pianists of the past century.

As a young adult, he played throughout Europe and the Middle East, but his dream was to pursue a musical career in the United States. After arriving in California, he played small concerts before being invited to perform at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

Giovanni made many friends in the movie business and in music circles, while many elite high rollers have been entertained by his unique, romantic style. Kodaline: 2019 Live in Beijing When: Feb 18, 8 pm Where: Tango Live, Beijing Platinum-selling Irish band Kodaline will bring its show to Beijing later this month. The band consists of singer Steve Garrigan, guitarist Mark Prendergast, bassist Jason Boland and drummer Vinny May. It released its new album, Politics of Living, on Sept 28 to rave reviews before embarking on a world tour.

Kodaline was formed in Dublin in 2012 and achieved immediate success. All I Want, from its first extended play recording, has logged more than 46 million views on YouTube.

Its 2013 debut album, Perfect World, established it as a highly emotional pop/rock band with perfectly crafted songs in the vein of Coldplay, while 2015’s Coming Up for Air, gave it its second Irish No 1. The band’s continual tours confirm its status as a growing force in the music world. Murray Perahia Piano Recital When: Feb 27, 7:30 pm Where: National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing

In the more than 40 years he has been performing, Murray Perahia has become one of the most sought-after and cherished pianists of our time, performing in all the world’s major international music centers and with every leading orchestra.

He is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, London, with which he has toured as conductor and pianist throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Born in New York, Perahia started playing piano at age 4, and later attended Mannes College, where he majored in conducting and composition.

His summers were spent at the Marlboro Festival, where he collaborated with such musicians as Rudolf Serkin, Pablo Casals and the members of the Budapest String Quartet. During this time, he also studied with Mieczysław Horszowski.

In subsequent years, he developed a close friendship with Vladimir Horowitz, whose perspective and personality became an enduring inspiration.

Recently, Perahia embarked on an ambitious project to edit the complete Beethoven sonatas.

He also produced and edited hours of recordings of recently discovered master classes by the legendary pianist Alfred Cortot, which resulted in the highly acclaimed Sony CD release Alfred Cortot: The Master Classes. School of Rock When: Feb 22-28, 7:15 pm Where: Shanghai Grand Theater

Based on the hit movie School of Rock, this new musical play follows Dewey Finn, a failed wannabe rock star who decides to earn extra cash by posing as a teacher at a prestigious prep school.

There, he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band.

With a new score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, story by Julian Fellowes and an incredible cast of kids shredding guitars, pounding drums and rocking out live, School of Rock is a treat for all

ages.