Video Game Pianist Encore
The Video Game Pianist, also known as VGP, The Blindfolded Pianist, or his
real name Martin Leung, is one of the first pianists to gain worldwide
recognition for playing popular video game music on the piano, both in concert
venues and in online videos. Unlike many recognized musicians, Video Game
Pianist's breakthrough occurred almost entirely online when, on May 10th, 2004,
a video of him playing the Super Mario Bros theme blindfolded appeared on
Muchosucko.
Early life
Born in Hong Kong to Chinese and Japanese parents, Video Game Pianist moved to
California when he was three years old and began taking interest in the piano at
the age of 4 when, after hearing his sister play, he began imitating songs. His
parents noticed his potential and enrolled him in piano lessons.
By the late 1990s, Video Game Pianist had developed into a talented musician,
placing first two times at the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, once
in 1998 and once in 2000, and placing third at the 2002 Oberlin Piano Festival.
Leung made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2003 at the age of 16 in the Isaac Stern
Auditorium, performing Mendelssohn's Concerto No. 1 - Presto.
In 2004, as a high school senior, Video Game Pianist put two of his passions —
piano and videogames — together, listening to the music of Super Mario
repetitively so he could arrange it for piano . On May 10, 2004, his hard work
paid off: the video he and a friend had created of him performing songs from the
Super Mario Bros. series blindfolded appeared on Muchosucko .
