孔祥东,作为当今国际古典乐坛最优秀、最活跃的中国钢琴艺术家之一。孔祥东曾囊括多个国际大奖和荣誉,第八届柴可夫斯基国际钢琴比赛铜奖;西班牙桑坦德尔国际钢琴比赛第四大奖及“年轻天才奖”;美国吉纳·巴考尔国际大赛金牌大奖;澳大利亚悉尼国际比赛金牌大奖及四项特别奖等。
孔祥东先后担任了美国吉纳·巴考尔国际钢琴大赛、澳大利亚悉尼国际钢琴比赛、巴西圣保罗·维拉罗伯斯国际钢琴比赛、哈恰图良国际钢琴比赛的评委。他毕业于上海音乐学院附中、美国费城柯蒂斯音乐学院。师从张永清老师、金迪善教授、范大雷教授、Dr. Paul C. Pollei 以及维也纳古典学派大师Claude Frank 教授。
孔祥东是首位应奥地利文化部邀请在维也纳金色大厅举办钢琴独奏音乐会的中国音乐家;首位在好莱坞露天剧场演奏的中国钢琴家;亚洲第一位与BMG/RCA唱片公司签约合作的钢琴家;首位在世界屋脊西藏拉萨举行大型音乐会的钢琴艺术家;首位以“亚洲及中国的文化大使”身份在韩国举行历史性的中韩建交音乐会的钢琴家;第一位组织了由35位旅美音乐家组成的“海外中国名家演奏团”在上海、北京举办多场音乐会的钢琴家;参与策划了在洛杉矶碗形露天剧场举办的大型中国歌舞音乐烟花晚会“为中国喝彩”。全世界已有40多个国家的观众亲身感受过他那激情洋溢的演奏。不论是在纽约林肯艺术中心、阿姆斯特丹的荷京音乐厅、洛杉矶的大使音乐厅、东京的山托利音乐厅、还是悉尼歌剧院,有孔祥东的地方就有美妙的音乐,他以无可比拟的音乐魅力征服了每一个观众。曾于与与上海交响乐团、上海爱乐乐团、新加坡交响乐团、香港交响乐团、香港中乐团、台湾交响乐团、悉尼交响乐团,前俄罗斯国家交响乐团,西班牙国家交响乐团,中国中央乐团,澳大利亚室内乐团,犹他交响乐团,洛杉矶爱乐乐团、日本爱乐乐团等乐团进行过合作。西方媒体曾评价“孔祥东是一个具有个性的钢琴家,他敢于向公认的标准挑战,但他同时又精通印象派的技巧。他是一个极赋天资的、集思想者与演奏家为一身的钢琴家”。作为钢琴家的他不仅在钢琴演奏领域享有广泛的声誉,更以自己的方式推动着中国的音乐教育与普及、音乐创作与创新。他通过公益演出、跨界合作等形式,为自闭症群体、阿尔兹海默症群体、其他精神障碍群体及无数普通人传递心灵慰藉。他的音乐不再局限于舞台,而是成为一座桥梁,连接个体与社会、艺术与生命。担任联合国儿童基金会亲善大使、中国特殊艺术协会副会长的孔祥东曾参与创作及制作的歌曲《爱你一万年》、及2008北京奥运歌曲《永远的朋友!Forever Friends!》已是华语歌曲中的经典之作。
Kong Xiangdong,As one of the best and most active Chinese piano artists in the international classical music world today. Kong Xiangdong has won many international awards and honors, including the bronze prize of the 8th Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition; the fourth grand prize and the "Young Talent Award" of the Santander International Piano Competition in Spain; the gold medal award of the Gina Bakoll International Competition in the United States; the gold medal awardand four special prizes in the Sydney InternationalCompetition in Australia.Kong Xiangdong has successively served as a judge of the Gina Bakol InternationalPiano Competition in the United States, the Sydney International Piano Competition in Australia, the São Paulo Villa Robles International Piano Competition in Brazil, and the Hachatulian International Piano Competition. He graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of Music Affiliated Middle School and Curtis Conservatory of Music in Philadelphia, USA. He was taught by Mr. Zhang Yongqing, Professor Jin Dishan, Professor Fan Dalei, Dr. Paul C. Pollei and Professor Claude Frank, a master of the Vienna Classical School.
Kong Xiangdong was the first Chinese musician to hold a piano solo concert at the Golden Hall in Vienna at the invitation of the Austrian Ministry of Culture; the first Chinese pianist to perform in the Hollywood Amphitheatre; the first pianist in Asia to sign a contract with BMG/RCA record companies; and the first to hold a large scale piano concert in Lhasa, Tibet, the roof of the world. The piano artist of the music club; the first pianist to hold a historic Sino-South Korean diplomatic relations concert in South Korea as the "Cultural Ambassador of Asia and China"; the first pianist to organize the "Overseas Chinese Famous Music Troupe" composed of 35 musicians who traveled to the United States to hold multiple concerts in Shanghai and Beijing; participated in the planning in The large-scale Chinese song, dance, music and fireworks party "Applause for China" held at the Bowl Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
Audiences from more than 40 countries around the world have personally experienced his passionate performance. Whether it is the Lincoln Arts Center in New York, the Holland Concert Hall in Amsterdam, the Ambassador Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Santory Concert Hall in Tokyo, or the Sydney Opera House, there is wonderful music wherever Kong Xiangdong is there. He conquers every audience with his incomparable musical charm. He has worked with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Phionic Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the former Russian National Symphony Orchestra, the Spanish National Symphony Orchestra, the Chinese Central Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Utah Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles The Emonic Orchestra, the Japan Lionic Orchestra and other orchestras have cooperated. Western media once commented that "Kong Xiangdong is a pianist with personality. He dares to challenge recognized standards, but he is also proficient in impressionist skills. He is a talented pianist who combines thinkers and performers. As a pianist, he not only enjoys a wide reputation in the field of piano performance, but also promotes music education and popularization, music creation and innovation in China in his own way. He conveys spiritual comfort to autistic groups, Alzheimer's groups and countless ordinary people through public welfare performances, cross-border cooperation and other forms. His music is no longer limited to the stage, but becomes a bridge between individuals and society, art and life. Kong Xiangdong, who serves as the goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Children's Fund and vice president of the China Special Arts Association, has participated in the creation and production of the song "Love You for Ten Thousand Years" and the 2008 Beijing Olympic song "Forever Friend! Forever Friends! It is already a classic of Chinese songs.