Pianist Charlie Liu of Plainsboro, 13, will be performing a benefit solo recital for the Plainsboro Rescue Squad on Sunday, August 17, at 3 p.m. at the Princeton Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Liu will play pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff, including all 12 etudes from Chopin Etudes Op. 10.
“Charlie’s younger brother, William, had a very scary episode during a strep throat fever that prompted us to call 911. It was PRS that came to our rescue. Now it’s time that we give back,” said Mingyi Liu, Charlie’s father.
The Plainsboro Rescue Squad provides ambulance service to the Plainsboro community. It is a 501(c)(3) charitable entity, with all equipment, from ambulances to uniforms, bandages, and medical oxygen, funded entirely by voluntary contributions from individuals and organizations.
Charlie Liu started playing piano when he was 4 years old. Since then he has won more than 20 piano competitions and performed in venues across the United States, highlighted by his completion of the Carnegie Hall “Grand Slam,” performing in all three Carnegie concert halls, at age 8. He has also performed on the Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey shows. Charlie is currently the youngest winner of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation Scholarship. He has studied with Ingrid Clarfield of Westminster Choir College since 2007.
Charlie will be a freshman at High School South this fall. At Grover Middle School he was a member of the Science Olympiad team and participated in the Math Counts competition. In his free time, Charlie enjoys playing video games and is an avid skier. He also played ice hockey for the Princeton Youth Hockey Association for eight years.
Rescue Music, Plainsboro Rescue Squad, Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton. Sunday, August 17, 3 to 5 p.m. Solo recital by Charlie Liu to benefit the squad. Free-will donation. www.plainsbororescuesquad.org.
