Lang Lang receives honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University

4 April 2014, 17:39 | Updated: 7 April 2014, 11:58

The world-renowned pianist is set to pick up the honorary degree this evening ahead of a sold-out recital.

The award will be presented to Lang Lang ahead of the artist’s sold-out recital at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, his only UK concert this year, and will be introduced by Anita Bhalla OBE, Chair of Town Hall & Symphony Hall.

Professor Cliff Allan, Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University, will present Lang Lang with his Honorary Doctorate award from the University at the start of Friday evening’s recital.

Lang Lang said: "It is with deep gratitude that I will be receiving the Honorary Doctorate degree from Birmingham City University. I can’t wait to see friends in Birmingham, on my only UK concert in 2014!"

.@lang_lang plays to a full house from this very spot tonight, after being honoured by @MyBCU http://t.co/PMDEMWQEBv pic.twitter.com/8zSfuNrQ8a

— TownHallSymphonyHall (@THSHBirmingham) April 4, 2014

A big day tomorrow in Birmingham - receiving an honorary doctorate from @MyBCU before a recital at @THSHBirmingham! pic.twitter.com/lZbufBAvm6

— Lang Lang (@lang_lang) April 3, 2014

This isn't the first honorary degree the pianist has received. In 2011, the Prince of Wales awarded him a PhD from the Royal College of Music, in 2012 picked up a degree from the Manhattan School of Music, and is also an honorary fellow of Oxford University.