PLAYING A DREAM: Tian Jiaxin plays Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466, at the New York Concert Artists Associates: Rising Artists Evening II on June 2 (SUN YUTING)

SMILING FACES: Tian Jiaxin (left) and conductor Kazuo Kanemaki wave to the audience at the New York Concert Artists Associates: Rising Artists Evening II on June 2 (SUN YUTING)

"Mom, I did a great job tonight! It's even better than the last time," pianist Tian Jiaxin, 25, told her mom over the phone soon after finishing her recital in New York City on June 2.

"A lot of audiences came to congratulate me. The conductor was excited. So was my teacher," Tian said. "I think I have a better understanding of this work."

Tian played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466, with Kazuo Kanemaki as the conductor. The recital, entitled Rising Artists Evening II, was hosted by the New York Concert Artists Associates at the Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church.

Tian said her mom, at home in Beijing, felt more excited than she.

After the performance, the conductor highly praised Tian, saying her future would be promising. A member of the audience shook hands with Tian, expressed the appreciation to her performance, and suggested Tian should perform at the Carnegie Hall, which she shall, in February 2013; two staff members of the renowned venue attended Tian's recital to evaluate her capacity to perform in front of a live audience. Prior to this, they had only heard recordings.

Born to a musician family in Beijing, Tian began studying piano at the age of three with professor Huang Peiying from the Central Conservatory of Music, and Luo Fang. She graduated from the Shenyang Conservatory of Music under the instruction of Wei Danwen.

Tian believes that one cannot play great music without a pure heart and a simple character. Her live performance testified to this, as she enjoyed the most passionate and lasting applause among the four musicians.

The happiest moment for Tian is to hear applause whenever her performance ends. Tian hoped more people could enjoy her music. "I feel happy from inside out as audiences enjoy my music," she noted. "It feels like as if I were on the stage."

In February this year, Tian played the same work with French pianist and conductor Philippe Entremont at her alma mater, the Manhattan School of Music. "Ms. Tian mirrored the ensemble's passion and energetic commitment, although her tone sometimes turned hard-edged, and she could have better conveyed the work's dark, soulful nature," reviewed Vivien Schweitzer of the New York Times.

In May 2012, Tian received her master's degree in classical performance from the Manhattan School of Music with Jeffrey Cohen as her teacher. At the graduation ceremony, she met Lang Lang, who received an honorary doctorate for his extraordinary accomplishments as a musician, educator and musical ambassador to the world.

According to Cohen, of the 180 students majoring in piano at the Manhattan School of Music, over 50 are from the Chinese mainland.

All eight participating musicians for the Rising Artists Evening were Asians, with four Chinese.

(Reporting from New York City)