Now I’m wondering if he did it on purpose, that is, arriving late to our special pre-show reception.  “Where’s Lang Lang?” everyone whispered.  The attendees had to make do chatting with me and the rest of the KDFC gang for an awkward 20 minutes.  But just when we thought his plane from Berlin had been delayed, in he strolled. I guess a star knows how to make an entrance.  Looking, I must say, great.  Adorable.  His spiky black hair not quite as spiky as in his photos, 501 jeans, Adidas tennis shoes with gold stripes along the sides.  As soon as he entered the party, the buzz was palpable.  Everyone wanted a photo and an autograph from the 25 year-old Chinese piano sensation.  He obliged them all with a smile and a laugh.  If he was jet-lagged, I couldn’t tell.  And when we took our places on stage for the judging of the 1st annual KDFC Classical Star Search, he dug right in with insightful comments and a few pointed criticisms (heard only by me!). He added so much to our event.  An event that was a mere twinkle in Bill Lueth’s eye just a few months earlier.  Could we pull it off?  With the good-natured participation of one of classical music’s biggest star, we did it!  Check out our winners on the Star Search page at www.kdfc.com.  BTW, Lang Lang kissed me on both cheeks when we said good-bye so that’s it, we’re bonded for life.