For Lang Lang and the young artists nurtured by his foundation, music is not only about virtuosity, but also about expression and connection.

The Lang Lang International Music Foundation held its New York City gala at the Metropolitan Club on Wednesday, celebrating the foundation's mission to inspire and cultivate the next generation of musicians through innovative programs and exceptional educational opportunities.

Lang and the young musicians performed and shared their understanding of music and their experiences performing for audiences beyond the concert hall.

"I find great joy in encouraging and guiding young people," Lang said. "To me, music is like learning a language. The earlier you start, the more naturally you can connect with it. Music is also a powerful cultural bridge. It allows people from different backgrounds and countries to understand and respect each other through shared expression," Lang told China Daily.

Since its founding in 2008, the Lang Lang International Music Foundation has supported young musicians for over a decade. Many of the children who once took part in the program have now graduated, and Lang said he hopes each of them could continue to share their passion, energy and warmth with the world.

They have also performed for children in rural areas, ethnic minority communities, children with disabilities, and those facing economic hardship, regularly playing in schools and hospitals to ensure that "music is accessible" to everyone, Lang said.

In China, the foundation's program Keys of Joy has built a nationwide network spanning 25 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, 71 cities and autonomous prefectures, and 102 county-level regions.

The program has funded the construction of 127 music classrooms, donated over 1,800 smart pianos and directly benefited more than 180,000 children.

Keys of Inspiration reaches over 100 schools and over 70,000 students each year in the US and Europe, according to the foundation.

"Lang Lang, as an international star, is in a unique position, not only to inspire the next generation of musicians, but also to help nurture their development," said David Hsieh, chairman of the board of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.

"We set up the foundation so that we can both prepare the next generation of Lang Langs, but also bring music to schools and underprivileged neighborhoods all around the world."

Another program under the foundation, Young Scholars, has sent young musicians for more international exchanges. This year's gala featured performances by Young Scholars Ryan Huang, Anna Kesselman, Alexander Liu, Ryan Wang, Taige Wang and Sencheng Zhang.

"It has brought me many unparalleled opportunities to perform in great concert halls with wonderful chamber musicians, and also to have meaningful experiences performing in hospitals and community centers for people who wouldn't normally have access to classical music," Kesselman said.

Kesselman said Lang is a role model, not only for his musical excellence but also for his efforts to make classical music accessible through various platforms. She added that she hopes to become a cultural ambassador like him.

"Lang Lang has done an amazing job bringing beautiful music to so many places. I would love to do the same thing he does, which is bring the most beautiful music that I can to the widest audiences," she said.

For young scholar Liu, who traveled with Lang and the foundation to Beijing and performed on the Great Wall, the experience was "eye-opening."

"It was a lifetime experience. Everything is different," the 14-year-old boy from New Jersey said about his experience in Beijing and his observations. "Their mannerisms are completely different. The way they play is different. The way they communicate and give advice is different. Even the way they bow and the way they prepare to sit down at the piano is different."

"What makes the Lang Lang International Music Foundation special is its ability to reach students across communities and open doors through music," said Lukas Barwinski-Brown, CEO of the foundation.

"I hope they will make careers and they will be ambassadors," he told China Daily, "but also give back to the community."