Pianist Conrad Tao has played top concert halls from an early age but after the release of his latest album, he chose to perform for a casual crowd in a crypt under a New York church. The 21-year-old, who has won some of classical music's most prestigious awards, says he is constantly on the lookout for potential new concert venues, from practice rooms to disused restaurants, and has previously incorporated abstract video into performances.

Chinese piano prodigy Yundi Li’s recent Seoul performance has been making headlines -- not for an outstanding performance, but because of his tempo blunders and seemingly shameless attitude afterward. The 33-year-old pianist returned to Korea to play alongside the renowned Sydney Orchestra, which performed two shows on Oct. 30 and 31 at the Seoul Arts Center -- with Li performing as a soloist with the orchestra Friday and violinist Vadim Repin performing Saturday. 

There’s a new James Bond film, Spectre, coming out this weekend in the US, and we’ve combed the 50-year history of the films to pinpoint some prominent uses of classical music in the 007 franchise. So sit back and find your Quantum of Solace as you check out this list that is For Your Eyes Only. 

A Tesco van driver has become an overnight star after an impromptu piano performance stunned shoppers and later the internet, after the clip went viral. Tom Moulton, 22, was pressured into playing a tune by his mum, Jane Wood, 50, as the pair walked past a piano in Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester. Tom, who has never had a piano lesson and cannot even read music, took a seat on the stool and after showing some initial reluctance began playing.

You don’t need a PhD or a specific gift in order to appreciate classical music. All you need is ears, and an open mind – things every child already has. Is the end of classical music approaching? The media is full of stories of doom and gloom: established orchestras and ensembles face closure or are being forced to merge, the audience is ageing, recordings don’t sell, copyright is dying and, worst of all, music education in schools is dwindling.

First it was the Sphinx Competition. Now it’s the M-Prize. Aaron Dworkin, the newly appointed dean of the School of Music, Theater and Dance at the University of Michigan is spearheading the creation of an annual $200,000 chamber music competition for students and young professional ensembles with a whopping $100,000 grand prize.

Jazz pianist Yosuke Yamashita, 66, plays a burning piano on the beach in Shiga, Ishikawa Prefecture. He was showing his appreciation for his old piano that he no longer uses. Yamashita did the same thing once before in 1973.

Students will see more of their favourite local musicians perform at their schools, if things go according to plan. Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, said last night that such initiatives are good ways for Singapore youth to develop their awareness of the home-grown music scene.

Chinese pianist will lead 50 pianists and duet with Singapore singer JJ Lin. Fresh from a short vacation in Qingdao, China, pianist Lang Lang will head for the high seas after his performance here at the Sing50 concert on Friday. But it is all work and no play for the 33-year-old Chinese virtuoso, who will be performing for the first time at a concert cruise departing from Shanghai and bound for islands near the Korean peninsula and Japan.

Piano teacher Audrey De Silva's lifelong dream has been to play in an orchestra. At age 55, it will finally be fulfilled. On Friday, she will be among the 92 people performing in the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra (MFO) at the Sing50 concert. She will be playing the cello, an instrument she started learning just five years ago.

Putting everything together, including 52 pianos, for the concert is a mammoth task. Organisers for the Aug 7 blockbuster Sing50 concert will have only three days to set up at the Singapore Sports Hub, when an event of such a scale usually requires about a week. This is one of the many logistical challenges for Sing50, billed as one of the largest concerts held during the Golden Jubilee.

It took a team of 80 people more than 11/2 years to put together a mega concert celebrating 50 years of Singapore music. Next Friday, the Sing50 concert organisers will finally see their efforts come to life when the historic musical spectacle is staged in front of 45,000 people at the new National Stadium.